The autographed prosthetic belongs to former soldier and Blesma Member Matt Wilson, who lost his left leg in 2009 after an IED explosion while on patrol in Afghanistan. Wilson received the signature during Osbourne’s 2011 visit to Headley Court, where he spent a year undergoing rehabilitation after serving with the regiment known today as The Rifles.
“He was taken aback by the severity of our injuries at first, but he was really interested and was very funny.”
Wilson, 36, who joined the The Rifles at 19, previously served in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. His family has deep military ties, his father was killed by the The IRA while serving in Northern Ireland in 1989.
The auction proceeds will be split between charities supporting injured veterans and motorcyclists, including Blesma, The Limbless Veterans and Legacy Moto.
“I’ve kept the leg for all this time, but I hope it can now raise some money,” said Matt, who will split the proceeds between Blesma and Legacy Moto, which supports injured motorcyclists and ‘anyone who has lost their way in life’.
