In a stunning return to the boxing ring after 32 years, Steve Sutton raised £5,800 for Blesma, The Limbless Veterans. The 51-year-old, a former member of 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers, laced up his gloves once more in tribute to his close friend, Alan ‘Yorkie’ Craven, a Blesma member who faced life-altering injuries after a parachute jump accident.
Steve, from Waterloo, Merseyside, had served alongside Yorkie for nine years and was by his side when medical teams feared the worst.
“I was there at his bedside when everyone thought that was the end,” Steve recalls. “Thankfully, he made it, but he suffered multiple injuries and had to have his left leg amputated below the knee.”
Despite the adversity, Yorkie’s resilience has been inspiring.
“It was amazing to have him at my wedding last year and at ringside supporting me,” said Steve. “Over the years, I’ve seen the incredible support he has been given by Blesma, both for his physical and mental wellbeing, and I wanted to do something to give back.”
