Changing the lives of those with mental and physical challenges

1

A Charitable Limited Company – Companies House Number 09756000 Charity Commission Registered 1166310

HMRC Charity Reference EW 24358

PADI Educational Facility 25330

President: Air Vice-Marshal Dr Jon Lamonte PhD MA BSc(Hons) CDir CMath CCMI FCIMA

FCILT FIOD FRICS FRIN FRSA CDipAF DL RAF(retd)

“You hold soldiers’ hands from when they come onto the programme, when they are in that

dark place and you don't let go until we see the light and get back on our right paths, and we

feel ready to let go”.

Trooper Danny Martin, Royal Scots’ Dragoon Guards

NEWSLETTER

May/June 2016

“A unique charity that feels like a family” Deptherapy Ambassador

To our President, Vice Presidents, Patrons,

Directors, Associate Directors, Regional

Reps. Advisory Board Members and

Ambassadors

FROM THE EDITOR

Having just returned from our latest

programme at Roots Red Sea I am both

humbled and inspired having spent a week in

the company of some amazing young men.

For some of the team it was the first time that

they had encountered programme members

who had suffered such devastating physical

injuries. Although trained to teach using

adaptive techniques, the first meeting with

someone who has suffered life changing

injuries can be overwhelming.

Yet on the other hand are those with no visible

signs of physical injury but who are mentally ill,

either through PTSD or other anxiety

disorders.

The achievements of our programme

members was truly amazing and there is a

detailed report later in the newsletter.

But as successful as the trip was, I came

home feeling saddened that we do not have

the funds to send more people on our

programmes. Our waiting list at the moment is

increasing daily.

We have to renew our efforts to find corporate

sponsors in addition to the marvellous people

who fundraise for us.

We have written to all the Personal Recovery

Units across the country to tell them of our

services and will be writing to possible

corporate sponsors in the coming weeks

Changing the lives of those with mental and physical challenges

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looking for them to sponsor our goals

contained in our five year strategic plan.

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS The President and Board are pleased to

announce that Paul Rose and Richard Castle

have both been made Vice Presidents of the

charity.

Paul Rose

Richard Castle

We are also pleased to announce that Andy

Torbet, well known adventurer and TV

presenter has become a Patron of the charity.

Andy was formerly in the Royal Engineers

(EOD) and brings a huge amount of

enthusiasm for the charity in his role as

Patron.

Andy Torbet

INVICTUS GAMES

ORLANDO 2016

Many congratulations to Chris Middleton and

Arron Dinydal both Deptherapy programme

members who won Bronze medals in the

wheelchair rugby and Silver medals in the

wheelchair basketball. An outstanding result

and two very brave and determined young

men.

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CHARITY BOXING NIGHT

26 May 2016

This event raised £1000 for the charity and

was attended by Deptherapy Board member

John Spencer-Ades. Thank you so much to all

involved

5 June 2016

So a team from the Scuba School decided to

take part in the Great Midlands Fun Run and

they raised £500 for Deptherapy, thanks very

much, a marvellous effort.

Changing the lives of those with mental and physical challenges

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MISS SCUBA UK

Miss Scuba UK are continuing to support us in

2016 and the finalists are all fundraising for us,

with the finals being held on 10 August in the

Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield.

Hannah Higgins who is one of the finalists is

also a medical student at Sheffield University

and has secured agreement from the

Academic Board to research the benefits of

scuba diving to those who have suffered life

changing injuries.

Prior to joining us on the Roots Red Sea trip

Craig Wood was presented with a dive

computer.

Rotherham-based Miss Universe GB finalist

Jamie-Lee Faulkner presents injured war

veteran Craig Wood, from Doncaster, with a

dive computer to help him qualify as a PADI

Open Water Diver.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/injured-soldier-

gets-help-with-diving-dream-from-south-

yorkshire-beauty-queen-1-

7990053#ixzz4DA9u1gZd

ROOTS RED SEA TRIP Not sure what words you can use to sum this

trip up, humbling, inspirational, emotional,

awesome, amazing, defining, are all words

that run off the lip. A week that was

surrounded in pride and achievement.

We all met at Gatwick Airport at 1030 on 21

June.

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Thomas Cook Airlines and Gatwick Airport Ltd

rolled out the red carpet for us and there was

applause on the plane when the Captain

announced our presence on the flight and the

injuries the guys had suffered.

We arrived at Roots and as usual received the

extremely warm welcome we have become

used to.

The guys participated in a PADI Project Aware

Dive Against debris, clearing a reef of fishing

line and other debris. We then completed a

beach clear up.

Chris Middleton using a line cutter to take

fishing line off a reef.

The dive and beach clear was on Armed

Forces Day and we held a Sunset Ceremony

as we remembered those who paid the

ultimate sacrifice.

We also had a visit from the British Consul

accompanied by his wife and the Defence

Attaché from the British Embassy.

John Kenny British Consul talks with the

troops

Capt. Ed Ahlgren OBE RN and Val Kenny talk

to Craig and Danny

This picture sums up the week an amazing

shot.

For many highlight of the week was diving the

wreck of the Salem Express, we travelled to

Safaga and boarded the Ducks’ Dive Centre

boat that has full disabled toilet and shower

facilities. The crew are experienced in dealing

with disabled divers.

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Dave, Craig, Chris and Martin hover by the

cargo doors of the Salem Express

Huge thanks as ever to Steve and Clare Rattle

and their team at Roots for their support and

generosity.

We returned home in the early hours of 29

June, very tired but euphoric.

PADI Open Water:

Craig Wood, triple amputee, Rifles

Andrew Searle, bilateral amputee, Rifles

PADI Advanced Open Water:

Danny Martin, cancer survivor, PTSD, Royal

Scots Dragoon Guards

Gary Green, blind in one eye, PTSD, Rifles

Luke Morrison, single leg amputee,

Parachute Regiment

PADI Deep Diver

Danny Martin, cancer survivor, PTSD, Royal

Scots Dragoon Guards

Gary Green, blind in one eye, PTSD, Rifles

Luke Morrison, single leg amputee, Parachute

Regiment

Lisa Martin, Danny’s boss

Chris Middleton started his trainee PADI

Divemaster programme while at Roots, again

he was fully supported by PADI and Richard

has asked Martin Weddell, owner of Divecrew

to be Chris’ mentor.

Sadly David Hubber had a pre-existing

medical condition not identified at his fit to dive

medical and could not dive.

Rolf Wiberg and Allie Crawford filmed the

week above and below the waves for a

documentary and Louise Trewavas was

reporting on the week for Diver Magazine.

As we assembled at Gatwick Airport it was

announced that the Prime Minister the Rt. Hon

David Cameron and given the Points of Light

Award to Richard Cullen for Outstanding

Volunteering.

“Dr Richard Cullen, is a retired

Metropolitan Police Commander from

Buckinghamshire who runs Deptherapy, a

charity which provides rehabilitation for

injured service men and women with scuba

diving.

When Richard read about how beneficial diving could be for people with serious physical injuries he became determined to give UK veterans a chance to experience the sport. He runs Deptherapy, a registered charity which takes small groups of injured troops out to the Egyptian Red Sea for tailored scuba diving programmes. Those who have taken part have reported feeling relief from their symptoms whilst in the water. Richard now holds the highest professional grade in the PADI system and uses this qualification to teach other scuba instructors both in the UK and abroad through the Deptherapy Education arm of the charity. Richard received his award as he departed for his next trip with a group of nine injured service personnel and their families.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

“Our service men and women give so much to our country. We as a nation have a duty to these people who sacrifice so much to keep us safe. Richard’s commitment to giving something back to so many of these brave people is truly inspiring.”

Richard said:

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“Working with UK Armed Services’ personnel who have suffered life changing mental and, or physical challenges is a privilege. Seeing the difference scuba diving makes to their lives is truly amazing. Some of our programme members are very clear that the charity has not just changed their lives, but saved them. I am humbled by the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award which I accept not just for myself but on behalf of all our team who give so freely of their time. For me as an individual and for Deptherapy this is a very proud day.”

ENDORSING WHAT WE DO

The words below were written by Danny Martin

on his return to Roots every member of the

support team has been deeply touched and

humbled by Danny’s words.

"Dear Richard and the Deptherapy team.

I just wanted to write this email to say a

massive thank you to everyone at the charity

for all you guys have done not only for myself

but for my family.

What you have done for us, is more than

anyone has ever done for us, you took myself

out to Roots last December and taught me

how to dive, I remember being the quiet guy of

the group as I wasn't too sure of everything

because no one had been that nice to me.

That trip in December and the work you all did

not only changed my life it saved it, as if it

wasn't for you I really don't know where I

would have been, and when I came home, you

continued the amazing work and saved my

marriage, to the point of Lisa saying she had

got the man she married back, and the kids

Jackson and Amelia-Rose had got their dad

back due to the amazing work Deptherapy

does.

Then this last trip you not only took myself but

you also took my wife Lisa out to Roots so I

could further my diving skills to become a

advanced open water and deep diver and you

also furthered Lisa's diving skills to deep

diver.. This last trip enhanced our diving skills

but you did something more amazing and

made Lisa and myself stronger and happier

together, that trip will remain with me for the

rest of my days especially when the day I

dived with Lisa and she held my hand

throughout the entire dive, it is one the best

moments of my life. I don't know how you do it

but all I can say is Thank you so much (tears

start to flow)

Everyone at the charity I just want to say again

Thank you so much, you have made me

stronger, a better person, you gave a husband

back to a wife, a father back to his kids... You

say that the soldiers are your heroes but to me

you guys are the heroes and inspirational, I

look up to a lot of you.

This is a unique charity that feels like a family.

A charity that will not only change a person’s

life but save it,

You guys go above and beyond the call.

Thank you again and I love you all xx"

12 JULY 2016

Richard will be attending the Cobseo AGM on

behalf of the charity. Cobseo have also issued

guidelines for fundraising all of which we

already observe.

Happy days.

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EXPEDITION 2016 Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon

So I guess for many the big news is the

planned expedition to Truk Lagoon in 2018.

Truk is where in World War II the Americans

attacked and sank the Japanese fleet at

anchor.

If we can raise the funds we intend to run an

expedition every two years, In 2018 we aim to

dive the wrecks of Truk. This expedition offers

a huge challenge to all our programme

members especially those with amputations.

We aim to take a team of 9/10 programme

members, with a highly qualified support team,

including a dive doctor and a paramedic.

Diving Truk is not easy, many of the wrecks

are deep and the diving days are long. We

have built a programme for programme

members that allows them to build up the

challenge. All existing programme members

are eligible for the trip but they must be AOW

and Deep trained. Any who already part of the

programme but have not progressed to AOW

and beyond and who want to be considered for

the expedition please contact me ASAP.

For those who need to do fitness work in the

build up to the trip can speak to Luke Morrison

and Kevin Pryke who are fitness coaches.

Given the challenges the diving will offer,

programme members will be required to

undertake a full HSE dive medical.

Once AOW and Deep qualified we will take a

liveaboard, in June 2017 to dive Military

wrecks in the Red Sea. This will be in itself a

challenging week and programme members

will be expected to qualify as both PADI Wreck

and Tec40 divers.

This will be followed by further developmental

programmes during the 2017 and early 2018.

This is a chance in a lifetime experience and a

huge challenge for the charity, the support

team but most of all the programme members

selected.

Those who wish to be considered for the

programme please contact Richard Cullen

ASAP

THE ROYAL

FOUNDATION

Our President, Chairman and Chris Middleton

will present to the Board of the Royal

Foundation Endeavour Fund Board at their

autumn meeting to bid for funding to support

our expedition plans to Truk Lagoon.

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AUTUMN PROGRAMME

ROOTS RED SEA

October/November 2016

We will be running another programme later in

the year with PADI Open Water course and

Advanced/Deep courses.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

19th August, Royal Victoria Hotel,

Sheffield.

We would like to get a Deptherapy table at this

event given the amount of support Miss Scuba

UK give us. Please let me know if you would

like to attend ASAP – troops and supporters

that is.

22/23 October

NEC BIRMINGHAM

Be there or be square

Call for troops – we need you guys to work

the stand and be at presentations etc.

I will book rooms as needed.

The Birmingham Dive Show is a showpiece

event for us, so as many programme members

as possible would be great to talk to people

attending the show, to rattle collecting boxes

and to represent the charity.

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Deptherapy will be presenting on the Diver

Stage on both days so roll up and listen to our

story and chat to the guys who have been on

the programme.

We are hugely grateful for the continued

support of Diver Group and in particular Nigel

and Dorothy ‘Dot’ Eaton.

PARTY IN THE PARK

10 DECEMBER

This year’s Party in the Park will be held on

10 December at Cantley House Hotel so get

booking your tickets

Tickets from Divecrew info@divecrew.co.uk

Last year’s event was amazing ask Danny and

Gary and it raises a huge amount for

Deptherapy.