West Ham United Football Club will be supporting Military charity Blesma, The Limbless Veterans at Saturday’s match at the London Stadium.
The premier league club have selected Blesma as a charity partner for the 2017/ 2018 season in honour of the Chadwell Heath-based charity’s work providing rehabilitative activities, and financial, emotional and practical support to limbless veterans.
The Hammers and Blesma have further developed their strong relationship through the West Ham United Foundation’s Learn to Coach Programme.
On Thursday 8th March, Blesma Members Matt Weston, Stuart Ellis, Mike Williams and Matty Woollard visited the club’s Rush Green training ground, where they were warmly welcomed by manager David Moyes and first team players Mark Noble, Andy Carroll, and Adrián San Miguel.
Assistant manager Stuart Pearce was more than happy to sign Stu’s prosthetic leg, while players Adrián and Pedro Obiang spent time with the Military veterans, learning how they have rebuilt their lives and about Blesma’s role in helping them regain their independence.
Blesma’s Associate Director of Fundrasing Barbara Warner, said: “Our Members had a wonderful day at the West Ham training ground. As always, the players and staff made us so welcome and we are honoured to be a chosen charity of West Ham United FC.”
On Saturday, Blesma will be present at the London Stadium as the Hammers play Southampton and former soldier Matt Weston, who lost both his legs and an arm while serving in Afghanistan, will be on the pitch at half time speaking about his story and the help Blesma have provided.
Supporters can donate £3 to Blesma by texting WHFC86 £3 to 70070.
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is the national charity for all limbless service men and women, their widows and dependants. It was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932.
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Notes to Editor
Images can be downloaded from the links below:
All pictures are from Blesma’s visit to the training ground.
- L to R: Adrián San Miguel, Afghanistan Veteran Matty Woollard, and Pedro Obiang: http://blesma.org/media/442580/img-20180308-wa0005.jpg
- Amputee Mike Williams, amputee Stu Ellis, West Ham Assistant Manager Stuart Pearce, West Ham Manager David Moyes, Matty Woollard: http://blesma.org/media/442581/img-20180308-wa0009.jpg
- Stu Ellis, Aaron Cresswell, and triple amputee Matt Weston: http://blesma.org/media/442582/img-20180308-wa0012.jpg
- Stu Ellis, Mike Williams, Arthur Masuaku, Pablo Zabaleta, and Matt Weston: http://blesma.org/media/442583/img-20180308-wa0014.jpg
- Adrián San Miguel, Stu Ellis, Mike Williams, Obiang, Matt Weston: http://blesma.org/media/442584/img-20180308-wa0016.jpg
- Stu Ellis’s signed prosthetic leg by Assistant Manager Stuart Pearce: http://blesma.org/media/442585/stu-ellis-leg-signed-up-ass-manager-stuart-pearce.jpg
About Blesma, The Limbless Veterans
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is the national charity for all limbless serving and ex-service men and women, their widows and dependants. It is a membership organisation which helps wounded service men and women rebuild their lives by providing rehabilitation activities and welfare support. Their membership includes those who have lost the use of a limb, an eye or the sight of an eye.
Blesma was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932. Blesma today has over 4000 Members and widows. The membership consists of men and women who have served during the Second World War and the many subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping operations since, including the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Follow us on Twitter @Blesma and Instagram @Blesma
For further information on Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, contact Jessica Mackinnon, In-house journalist, E: ihj@blesma.org, T: 020 8590 1124, W: www.blesma.org
