Clare Ebison
Leaping From a Plane For Wetwheels Yorkshire
Fundraising for Wetwheels Foundation
Story
Firstly a big thank you for taking the time to have a look at this page! :)
On 17th June 2017 I will be doing my first ever parachute jump to try to raise £1000 for Wetwheels Yorkshire.
£1000 would give an amazing and unforgettable experience to 60 highly deserving disabled people!!
What is Wetwheels Yorkshire?
The Wetwheels Foundation is a registered charity. Wetwheels builds disabled people's confidence by providing the opportunity to access the sea in a fun, safe, stimulating and rewarding way using specially modified, fully accessible powerboats.
Our adventurous trips afloat are staffed by specialists who ensure each person can share experiences, challenge their self-perceptions, extend their horizons, and discover new opportunities.
Beneficiaries are active participants, rather than simply passengers, with opportunities to steer the vessel and learn seamanship, alongside their peers, friends and families. The experience is truly inclusive helping to improve aspirations and increase confidence.
Wetwheels Yorkshires' mission is to see a Wetwheels powerboat operating at Whitby delivering opportunities for disabled, disadvantaged and the elderly of Yorkshire, Humberside and the North East of England.
Here's a little video to give you a better idea of what Wetwheels yorkshire do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P8oB17VZm8&feature=youtu.be
Why am I raising money for them?
Back in 2015 everything was going great and me and my now husband were counting down the days until our wedding in October.
On September 18th we flew out to Turkey on a pre-wedding relaxing holiday, two days later disaster struck.
My husband to be had a stroke!!
We got home just over two weeks later, and thought that everything was back on track then disaster struck again and he had a further two strokes!
This all had a massive affect on his mobility on his right side leaving him unable to walk or move his right arm. It also took is speech and ability to swallow.
Today things are getting better. He can walk, his arm/ hand are returning to function - some dexterity issues but miles better than it was, and he can talk, that he certainly can do :)
There are still some physical disabilities and some mental fatigue issues, but we are getting there - and we did get married on 28th October 2015 as planned!
So back to the why
Why should disability and disadvantagement be a barrier to someone fulfilling dreams or having fun or new experiences?
Being on the water means a lot to my husband, he's an ex lifeboat man with 26 years of service, and used to work on crew transport boats on wind farms.
I can't think of a better way to honour our battle with disability than by doing something that can help others have rewarding experiences doing something that's that's been a big part of my husbands life so far - being on the sea.
See my husband with Peter from Wetwheels yorkshire in an interview with Look North
Thank you for reading :)