Injured UK troops to help Egyptian children with additional needs experience scuba diving
On 10th December, four seriously injured British Armed Services personnel on the Deptherapy programme will help a group of twelve Egyptian children with additional needs from the town of El Quseir to experience scuba diving as part of HEPCA’s ‘Diving for All’, which seeks to make diving accessible to all people.
The event, supported by the four injured troops and Deptherapy staff, will allow the children to enjoy scuba diving in a confined water environment, similar to the PADI Bubblemaker programme.
The programme is being hosted by Steve and Clare Rattle at Roots Red Sea. Roots is the base for injured troops on the Deptherapy programme undertaking their PADI Open Water Course.
Working with HEPCA, the event is the brain child of Sharon El Shoura. Sharon, who is based in Hurghada and runs Splash Dive Centre, became involved with Deptherapy when she attended the Deptherapy Education Professionals’ Course which was run at Roots Red Sea in March this year.
Sharon, who has considerable experience of working with the injured and disabled, is keen to get people of all abilities diving and this event is part of her commitment to that aim.
The four British Armed Services personnel are Luke Morrison (single below the knee amputee), Gary Green (blinded in the right eye and PTSD), Mike Jones (back injury and PTSD), and Danny Martin (PTSD and cancer). All four plus their instructors and support team are looking forward to working and diving with the children.
Danny Martin, 23, said: “I am so looking forward to helping these Egyptian children. I know how important support and motivation is when you have suffered injury or illness. Going to war and suffering from PTSD was nothing compared to the battle I have waged against my cancer. Without the loving support of my wife Lisa, my children, family and friends I would not be where I am today. Deptherapy has come along and provided me with support – 24/7 if needed – and has given me a focus to my life. I want to repay this by inspiring these kids in the same way that Deptherapy has inspired me. Having children of my own I hope I can relate to those we will be working with.”
To find out more about Deptherapy, visit www.deptherapy.co.uk.
To find out more about Roots Red Sea, visit www.rootsredsea.com.
