A military charity started almost 100 years ago to help wounded soldiers, sailors and airmen who lost limbs in war wants volunteers to hold fundraising events in their east London neighbourhoods.

The Blesma limbless veterans’ charity in Chadwell Heath, formed after the First World War and becoming a national charity in 1932, holds its fundraising week from May 28, including bucket collections outside Canary Wharf Underground station.

It is appealing for fundraisers to hold bake sales, barbecues, pub quizzes and bucket collections.

The charity’s Sophie Allen said: “Blesma Week shows we are able to do for veterans and their families and shout about what our members are up to.”

Its fundraising week in 2016 brought in £50,000 with events such as a 100-mile cycle ride and a 24-hour ‘hand bikeathon’. This year Jonathan Bell, who was paralysed from the chest down in a pre-deployment military exercise, has organised a 100-mile charity cycle.

The Blesma charity, with its offices in Chadwell Heath High Road, helps wounded service personnel rebuild their lives with rehabilitation and welfare or supporting their widows and families. Its 4,000 membership includes those who have lost a limb, eye or the sight of an eye who served during the Second World War and subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping operations including the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The fundraising team can be reached on 020-8548 7089, with details of how to get involved in Blesma Week also available online.