I will be doing 31,000 press-ups and sit-ups over the next four months for BLESMA, the British Limbless Ex-Servicemens's Association:

BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Service Men's Association) is the national charity for limbless serving and ex service men and women and their dependants and widows.

It is the charity that directly supports all our service men and women who lose limbs, the use of limbs or eyes or the sight of an eye in the service of our country and we are with them all whenever we are needed for the rest of their lives.

I am an Officer in the Royal Engineers and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer, and previously Commanded the Joint Force EOD Group in Helmand, Afghanistan and returned again to train the Anghan National Security Forces (ANSF) EOD and Combat Engineer branches. Through my work I have had the unfortunate experience of seeing the most horrific injuries and deaths of Allied Military personnel and Afghan civilians by explosive devices and other battle injuries.

Friends and soldiers from my Regiment have suffered life-changing injuries, and BLESMA is always there to help when the time comes. You can read about them here:

http://www.blesma.org/

I have worn a BLESMA wrist band since 2007 and they are a constant reminder of my fallibility and failure as an EOD operator, and an enduring motivator for me to do better.

I am deploying again to Afghanistan on 25th February 2013 with 31 Sqn RAF, and I intend to perform 31,000 press-ups and sit-ups between then and July when I return to the UK to raise funds for BLESMA, and as an antidote to my recent 40th birthday.

 

The inspiration for this event is from my friend Captain Ian Flannery of the Royal Signals who did 4267 sit-ups in 150 minutes!!! Ian is a machine, so I decided to play the long game instead.  Here is Ian's amazing achievement: 

http://www.captainjim.org/situpchallenge.html

 

The reason I came up with 31,000 as a number is that I am attached to 31 Sqn RAF and as a Squadron we will also be lifting 31,000 tonnes in the gym, and therfore 31,000 reps seemed as good a number as any...

 

You can follow my progress for BLESMA on this page, and donate directly here.  Please give generously, as I may need their help myself one day...