Fylde coast double amputee Rick Clement set for 10 mile trek for veterans

A Fylde coast war veteran who lost both his legs in Afghanistan is leading a 10 mile walk to raise awareness of Armed Forces Day.
Rick Clement is raising awareness of Armed Forced DayRick Clement is raising awareness of Armed Forced Day
Rick Clement is raising awareness of Armed Forced Day

Rick Clement, 41, of Cartmell Avenue, Fleetwood, will be in his wheelchair for the trek from Blackpool’s Central Pier to Fleetwood Old Comrades Club on Sunday June 27, the day after Armed Forces Day.

The walk gets underway at 8am.

Rick, who has raised funds for a number of armed forces charities, is keen to show support for the men and women serving today.

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The former army sergeant, who originally came from Clitheroe and later spent nine years living in Blackpool, received his life-changing injuries during a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2010, when a Taliban bomb exploded nearby.

Armed Forces Day (formerly Veterans’ Day) is an annual event celebrated in the UK to commemorate the service of men and women in the British Armed Forces - and to ensure that veterans are never forgotten.

Rick, a Fleetwood resident for three-and-half years, said; “It is tough for every service person who receives a serious injury but for fortunately there are some very good charities which really help.

“I’ve tried to support a few different charities in a few ways and if I can keep Armed Forces Day in the public eye it will be a worthwhile thing.”

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Rick is also keen to raise awareness of his new role with Fleetwood Town Community Trust, the community wing of the town’s football club.

He is now the Positive Pathways Project Coordinator (Veterans Health and Wellbeing) with the Trust and said : “I work helping veterans in the local community in a variety of ways.

“If any veterans do need some extra help or advice they can get in touch.”

For the seafront walk, Rick will be accompanied by members of the Blackpool FC Trust and AFC Fylde Veterans coordinators.

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He added: “We are setting off at 8am from the Pier and would be finishing around four hour later as I did a practice run this week in my wheelchair.

“That practice was tough-going to be honest - I hope the wind is behind us on the day!”

People are welcome to join the walk on day, when the halfway point will be JD Gym on Cleveleys seafront, where participants will stop for a break.

And at the end of the trek, there will be a warm welcome at the Old Comrades Club, on Adelaide Street in Fleetwood.

Any veterans wanting to contact Rick can phone him on 07949523089.

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