Who will go the extra mile for charity?

WARRINGTON Disability Partnership is looking for people to go the “extra mile” to raise money for the user-led social enterprise.
Last year, more than 40 people took the “Going the Extra Mile Scuba Challenge” – raising £3,500.
Now charity founder and chief executive Dave Thompson said: “I truly believe we can top that in this year.
“WDP is a great cause and scuba diving is an exciting and inclusive sport.
“We need people to join myself, our disability information officer, Tom Coleridge, trustee Dave Williams, and their dive buddy, John Munslow, at Woolston Leisure Centre on Saturday, September 5.”
The challenge is open to everyone over the age of 12 (medical clearance may be required) and equipment will be provided by “friends of WDP” – Terry Wood and his team from Cheshire Scuba Academy.
Qualified divers (PADI, BSAC, etc.) are asked to raise a minimum of £30 to take part in the thrilling 64-length (one mile) swimming pool dive at Woolston Leisure Centre.
Novice (non-qualified) divers and beginners are also asked to raise a minimum of £30 in sponsorship and have their own exciting challenge… a fully-supervised Try Dive. Registration for both challenges is open from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on the day.
Dave said: ““It’s five years since I first launched this event to raise funds for Disability Awareness Day (DAD) – the world’s largest not-for-profit, user-led, pan-disability exhibition.
“Sunday, July 10, 2016 will be the 25th anniversary of DAD – and for our ‘silver’ celebration, we have plans that are bigger and better than ever before! By taking part in the ‘Going the Extra Mile Scuba Challenge’, you have an opportunity to raise funds for a globally-recognised event in its commemorative year and to challenge yourself in a new, thrilling way.”
In 1989, Dave sustained a spinal cord injury while playing American football. He has since been a full-time wheelchair user with limited use in his left arm and none in his right arm or legs.
“Despite this, he completed his PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water qualifications seven years ago and has since recorded over 150 dives in the UK and abroad.
Dave completed last year’s challenge in a gruelling two hours and 40 minutes. Most qualified divers completed the mile in around one hour.
If people are unable to join Dave, Tom and the team for all or part of the challenge, they can donate online by visiting the challenge’s JustGiving webpage at www.justgiving.com/wdpscuba2015
Team WDP would also be sincerely grateful to anyone who can make themselves available to come along to the pool on the day to cheer on all those taking part.
Reflecting on last year’s Scuba Challenge, Tom Coleridge said: “I smashed it in only my fifth time in the water.”
The 23-year-old ex-Afghanistan serviceman, who was injured in action and is now a full-time wheelchair user, continued: “It was the furthest diving distance I’d ever completed – and, along with the instructors, it was the people cheering me on from the poolside that got me through it. You will never know what difference you can make simply by showing up to say: ‘Go for it!’”
For more details about the Scuba Challenge or Try Dive, please contact Janis Williams in WDP’s Fundraising Team on 01925 240064. For further information about scuba diving for disabled people, contact Dave Thompson MBE DL on 01925 240064 or email him at [email protected]