I remember when the DDay 44 run event was created by Lt Col Mike McElrain. He and his wife Jo were great supporters of forces charity's.
Sadly, Lt Col Mike McErlain died while running the Normandy Beaches on the 6th June 2013, but the event returns in 2018 as the D-Day 44 Challenge with the blessing of Mike’s widow, Jo, and is now supporting the charities Combat Stress and Blind Veterans UK as well as BLESMA.
I'm taking part for BLESMA during this event. As a running amputee I know that this will certainly challenge me in mind and body ! 44 Miles Ouch I can feel the pain now ! But it will be nothing as to what the men of the DDay landings had to deal with back in 1944. You've seen the films and the beaches it's time to run them in their honour and the memory of Mike. Every step. To pay my respects to their sacrifices. I'll be running with Stu Queen who's inspired me to tackle this ultra run. He's a former Royal Marine and great friend and supporter of BLESMA. An awesome runner.
We both understand and value what our former Brothers/Sisters in Arms have done for our continued freedoms.
Men & Women of the SOE
(Special Operations Executive) also played a major part in the readiness of the DDay landings.
https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/world-war-ii/espionage-and-the-soe/
I’ll be Particularly thinking of their sacrifices and endeavours as many agents were killed.
I want to give something back to Blesma by raising £1000, so that this charity can continue to support the injured armed forces personnel and family's. The DDay landings sadly created many amputees and BLESMA was their to help and assist them once they returned home. It's the same today, BLESMA helped me to recover and overcome my amputation. I'll alway be grateful.
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the loss of use of a limb, an eye or loss of sight. We support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK and overseas. We work tirelessly for our Members when the conflicts that have affected their lives are no longer a focal point in the nation’s media. Since 1932, we have been the only national Service charity that supports limbless veterans for the duration of their lives. Our Members range from the youngest amputee veterans to those who fought in WWII, some having lived with limb loss for more than half a century. Modern medicine transforms the physical injury, but it is a complicated process to treat the emotional trauma and related lifelong health problems.Blesma provides a network where Members not only enjoy support from our professional Welfare Team, but where they have the opportunity to engage with others who have similar injuries and backgrounds to themselves, building an important fellowship with each other to overcome everyday battles.