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Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP) is a user-led organisation, established over 28 years ago. Today, WDP has a team of nearly 50 staff and over 200 volunteers, over 85% of whom are disabled people. Together, they deliver 27 mobility and independent living facilities from their facilities in Warrington, Liverpool and North Wales. In addition, 2 of their projects impact on the lives of disabled people around the world.

Dave Thompson MBE DL, joint founder and Chief Executive, is a full time wheelchair user after sustaining a spinal cord injury whilst playing American Football in 1989. He has tetraplegia, with limited use in his left arm and none in his right arm and both legs. Dave started scuba diving in 2009, he is PADI Advanced Open Water accredited, with over 200 dives. He has had articles published on the benefits of diving for disabled people and is a regular speaker at exhibitions and universities.

Dave launched the Going the Extra Mile Scuba Challenge 9 years ago to  help raise funds for WDP and to provide the opportunity for other disabled people to try the sport of Scuba Diving.

Dave will be joined on Saturday 2nd November at Livewire Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub by nearly 30 able bodied and disabled divers including Tom Coleridge who was seriously injured in Afghanistan back in 2010, and is also a full time wheelchair user due to paraplegia. 

Other team members include John Munslow who has had spinal surgery, Neil Davies and Jill Doran, who are both double amputees and fellow amputee Damian Harper, who has recently returned from his epic Kilimanjaro Challenge.

The Scuba Challenge is open to novices who can attempt a fully supervised Try Dive and qualified divers (PADI or BSAC) who will take on the Going the Extra Mile Challenge of 64 lengths.

Dave said, “The ongoing success of this event is made possible because of the team at Livewire for providing the pool, facilities and their staff, and Derek Howden and his team at Cheshire Scuba Academy for providing the kit, instructors, underwater and poolside support. Plus admin and counters from Birchwood Lions and our staff and volunteers at WDP, and not forgetting the divers” 

If you want to join us, please contact Kate or Dave on 01925 240064 or 07879440134 or email k.picken@disabilitypartnership.org.uk.

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