Going the Extra Mile – Scuba Challenge

 

This page has been set up to enable you to donate online for those taking part in this year's Scuba Challenge, which will be held on Saturday 27th April (4pm-8pm) at Great Sankey Leisure Centre, Warrington. Participants will be raising money for Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP).

 

Terry Wood and his team from Cheshire Scuba Academy have once again agreed to support the event, providing dive instructors and equipment. Mark Evans, Editor of the internationally acclaimed ‘Sport Diver’ magazine has also offered his support to this year’s event with publicity and marketing and will also be participating.

 

The Going the Extra Mile, Scuba Challenge is an annual event organised by the Warrington Disability Partnership and aims to raise funds to help run their annual Disability Awareness Day (DAD), an independent living event founded in 1992.

 

DAD attracts over 28,000 visitors each year, but despite attracting international recognition two years ago the voluntary-led event was threatened with closure due to severe government cuts and needed alternative funding.

 

Scuba enthusiast Dave Thompson MBE who is the founder and chairman of WDP and event co-ordinator for DAD led the development of the Going the Extra Mile Scuba Challenge.

 

In 1989 Dave sustained a spinal cord injury whilst playing American Football and is now a full time wheelchair user with limited use in his left arm and none in his right arm or legs. Despite this he has completed his PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water qualifications and in the past five years has recorded over 70 dives in the UK and abroad.

 

In 2011 he completed the mile in a grueling 2 hours 10 minutes and last year he set a new personal best of 1 hour and 49 minutes. This year, Dave will be attempting the 64 length challenge using Poseidon rebreather system, which will enable him to complete the dive without surfacing to change tanks.

 

In the past two years the events have attracted interest from over 50 people, including experienced divers who have completed 64 lengths and first timers who have completed supervised try dives. Together they have raised over £25,000 which enabled Dave and his team to continue to run Disability Awareness Day events which included an onsite swimming pool where visitors including several disabled people could attempt a try dive. If you would like to participate in this year's event, please contact Dave: dave.thompson@5bp.nhs.uk.

 

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