I am pleased to announce the launch of the Tees Valley Disabled Coach and Leader Project which aims to support disabled people become sport coaches and leaders. The project involves 25 candidates receiving a free place on a community sport leaders (CSLA) award taking place at Hartlepool College of Further Education and the opportunity to receive £50 financial contribution towards a NGB Level 1 coaching qualification following completion of the CSLA.

We are also recruiting 10 mentors who will support the candidates through the CSLA award and in their sport volunteering. Coach mentors will also receive £50 contribution towards a NGB coaching qualification of their choice.

• Attend the Tees Valley Coach, Leader & Volunteer Conference
• Required to attend at least 2 days of the CSLA course  (28^th, 29^th June, 2^nd, 4^th, 9^th, 10^th July)
• Support your mentee’s complete the compulsory 10 hours volunteering to complete the CSLA
• Support your mentee’s agreed 10 hours volunteering following the course

Role of the coach mentors

A coach mentor is a coach who supports the development of other sports coaches through a structured process.  You do not have to be an ‘expert’ on the topic the coach wants to tackle. Your role is to use your skills and experience to help the coach manage their own learning.

The mentoring process is negotiated between the coach mentor and coach learner (mentee) and is adapted to suit the needs of the mentee. Typically, mentoring will involve:

• identifying goals
• agreeing a support plan
• active listening
• modelling, observing and discussing practice
• providing guidance, feedback and, where necessary, direction
• sharing learning tools and resources
• reviewing and action planning.

Person specification

If you are interested in becoming a coach mentor please complete the application form below.

* Please click HERE to download the form *

Please return all completed forms to:

Victoria Auton

Coaching Development Manager

Tees Valley Sport

Middlesbrough

TS1 3BA

01642 342287

v.auton@tees.ac.uk

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:   FRIDAY 8^TH JUNE

*
This sounds like a brilliant opportunity for sporty 12-19 year olds and, if you’d like to participate, we recommend you get in touch with Sarah Panayi whose contact details are below. Booking is essential so please act promptly to avoid disappointment.

Multi-Sport Events 25^th June Darlington, 26^th June Middlesbrough

Are you interested in improving your skills and trying new sports such as Wheelchair Basketball, Table Tennis, Football, Cricket or Athletics?  If so, and you are aged between 12 and 19 then this event could be for you.  Part of a campaign to encourage more disabled people to ‘Try Sport’, special events are being held on the 25^th and 26^th June.  To find out more and register your interest, use the contact details below.  Booking essential.

To book please contact:

Sarah Panayi, Tees Valley Sport, Teesside University, Brittan Building, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BA

T: 01642 342287

E: s.panayi@tees.ac.uk

Online: www.teesvalleysport.co.uk/2012-legacy/trysport

Also: Swimming County Athlete Assessment Day
30^th May 2012 1.30-3.30pm.The Dolphin Centre, Darlington, DL15RP
You must be able to swim a minimum or 25m in one or more recognised swimming strokes to take part. To register your interest for the swimming CAAD please contact Chris Armstrong on chris.armstrong@swimming.org or 07787269306

PLEASE NOTE: Places are offered by invitation only

* Please click HERE for a downloadable Flyer *

A new online community is being officially launched on Monday May 21^st 2012, that aims to connect thousands of families across the globe who are affected by congenital limb differences (Dysmelia).

The new website for the DysNet project goes live today, aiming to provide up-to-date information, support and signposting as well as a wealth of hard-to-find research and historical documentation.

Individuals around the world will be encouraged to contribute to the online knowledge-base, to share expertise and resources that may benefit others in a similar position.

It’s the brainchild of a group of Thalidomiders from across Europe, who realise that, although they are approaching fifty years old, there are many, younger people with congenital limb differences in the world with whom they can share their experiences of how to lead independent and fulfilled lives.

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Thalidomide generation. Half a century ago, the thalidomide drug was finally withdrawn from circulation in the face of overwhelming evidence that it caused birth defects, most characteristically, shortened arms and legs.

The group, who have formed a pan-European Non-Governmental Organisation called EDRIC (European Dysmelia Reference Information Centre),  chaired by Thalidomider and former BBC veteran, Geoff Adams-Spink, are making sure that the knowledge they have gained is preserved and built upon.

Geoff said, “There are many small support groups dotted around Europe and the rest of the world of people with various forms of dysmelia. We want to bring all of their knowledge together so people can find the answers they need and also contribute to the database from their own experiences. We believe this will  improve the lives of people with limb differences everywhere.”

The ambitious project kicked off in April, establishing online presences on social networking sites that are already beginning to flourish. With the launch of the website (www.dysnet.org), DysNet will be able to help share its resources globally.

Björn Håkansson, Deputy Chairman and Treasurer of EDRIC, said, “Thalidomiders are a very determined group of people and we’ve solved many problems in our lifetimes. We want to pass this ‘can do’ attitude on to future generations of people affected by limb differences. Now we have the internet and social media, we have the ability to do just that.”

DysNet is also launching an online community on RareConnect, a rare disease community run by EURORDIS, the European Rare Disease organisation and NORD, the National Organisation for Rare Disorders.

Online Community Manager at EURORDIS, Rob Pleticha, said, “We’re delighted to have DysNet join our RareConnect network. The new DysNet RareConnect community will offer a trusted, monitored environment for everyone involved with dysmelia, whether personally or professionally, to make connections.”

This will be available to people in the five major EU languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish) and should help to connect groups who are currently unable to communicate freely because of language barriers.

David McNamara completed the gruelling “3 Peaks Challenge” to raise funds for the Douglas Bader Foundation, specifically theBADER BRAVES initiative. David’s son, Morgan, is an enthusiastic BRAVE with several events under his belt.

Reading David’s wonderful account may give you an idea of what you have to go through to complete a challenge like this – the lack of sleep; the discomfort; the constant psychological battle involved in being up against what must sometimes seem like an impossible time limit; the grim determination to keep going despite physical pain, exhaustion both mental and physical, and whatever the weather throws at you. The actual experience, of course, is David’s alone – the rest of us can only imagine. Imagine and be awed and inspired by his commitment, his endurance and his achievement. Because he did it. Despite all, despite getting lost on Scafell, despite inadequate footwear and unexpected snow and all the other obstacles, David made it back to the final car park – and what an extraordinary relief it must have been to see that – within the 24 hour time limit of the challenge. A great achievement executed with true Bader spirit.

The Douglas Bader Foundation is deeply indebted to David, and to Tony, his trusty driver, for their immense efforts to raise funds for the BADER BRAVES. David’s wife, Angela, has set herself a fund-raising goal for the challenge and we are indebted  to her also fo

r her efforts in attempting to achieve this. A hard battle and often a thankless one in this uncertain financial climate. Despite the efforts of the team, they still have a way to go to reach the fund-raising target. Please, please help them and thereby this very worthy cause by donating to David’s Just Giving Page. There’s only a short time left as the Page closes on the 23rd of the month. It doesn’t matter how small the donation – every penny helps – and it’s a small effort compared to David’s.

Please click on the link to go to David’s Just Giving Page (this may take a bit of time to download):

http://www.justgiving.com/david-mcnamara0

* You can learn more about the important work done by the Douglas Bader Foundation BADER BRAVES initiative by going to the BADER BRAVES section of the DBF Website *

Please read on for David’s personal report:

6 am Sunday morning, 22 April. Cold grey morning. Had 1 hr sleep and I’m getting closer to my neighbour than need be at this time of morning. Me and and my neighbour, Tony, are about to embark on our journey to Fort William, Scotland, from the borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. We are setting off earlier than planned on website due to poor communication on my part and Tony’s work commitments. We were originally planning on driving up slowly on the Sunday, staying in a hotel, then starting the challenge the following day at 6 pm on the 23rd, completing the challenge by 6pm on 24th, then on to a ni

ce pub for a beer, football and hotel for a good nights sleep before heading back to Berkshire. But now the task that faced us was driving up to Fort William, starting the challenge when we got there, completing it by the following day, then driving back to Berkshire straight after on the Monday night. So with that in mind we set off on our journey, which was going to be physically and mentally draining to both of us given the time frame which now faced us. It could only be done on that day – pulling out was not an option. We made good time with Stirling (Tony) Moss behind the wheel and before we knew it we were hitting Stoke with both of us surprisingly jolly despite the time.

****

As we were coming to the potteries I see a thick cloud of smoke coming from the bushes and thought it a bit early for a farmer to be having a bonfire by the side of the motorway but, as we passed, we see a car in the bushes with a lady by the side and the driver trapped. We pulled over onto the hard shoulder. Luckily Tony being a lorry driver knew the exact location and got onto the emergency services while I ran to the car to see what help we could give. There was already another lorry driver on the scene but none of us could risk moving the driver in case he had a spinal injury and he had suffered trauma to the head as there was a lot of blood. Luckily help was soon upon the scene and we left him in the hands of the professionals. We were in somber mood as we headed back off to Scotland but it shows you how quickly in this life you can be the one helping one minute and the one needing help the next and how important charities like the Douglas Bader Foundation are. It can only take a second for your life to be turned upside down. A few rest stops along the way and we were soon making our way through Scotland, through the outskirts of Glasgow, then on and past the beauty of Loch Lomond – with no time for fishing. We were both excited to be seeing the mountains as we headed into Fort William. Tony had made great time. We got to the Ben Nevis Centre full of curiosity to see what lay in store – pictures can never do natural beauty true justice. It was becoming grey above but dry. We talked to the lady in the Centre and I discovered I was not well prepared for the snow on top of Ben Nevis that was forecast. I was in old Timberland boots and had no walking poles. It was going to be fun… I bid farewell to Tony who was hopefully going to get some rest after a massive effort to drive from Berkshire to Fort William.

****

I started off across the bridge and on to Ben Nevis. I made good time and the views were spectacular. It was a hard slog up the rocks but was going well until I hit the ice and snow, that’s when it become fun. There was a few slips and tumbles as I started to regret not taking my footwear seriously. On top of that it was starting to snow heavily and visibility was very poor. I could barely see in front of me. Luckily for me there was boulders called cairns up near the top to guide you the way to the summit. I could just about make them out and followed them to the top through the thick snow my legs were sinking into. I was surprised by the amount of snow on top and probably very naive. It was a great feeling to get to the summit and a privilege to be there for the Bader Braves. Coming down was going to be fun and there was a few more tumbles in the snow and ice. It was a relief to get back to the ordinary boulders and was glad to see the back of the snow. Once on to the normal track and rocks I skipped down in no time. Four hours and forty minutes had passed since I last saw Tony and I was back pestering the poor man to drive again. A quick change and we were on the road back to England and Scafell Pike. It was going to be a tough long drive through the night.

****

The night was a bit of a blur filled with dark roads and service stations. Maybe we got 20 minutes sleep. We rolled into Wasdale Campsite at an ungodly time and I was quickly lost not knowing where to start. It took my tired brain some time to work out where to start my trail and again bid farewell to Tony and leave him to the hygienic delights of the campsite shower, which he got for a bargain 20pence (10 pence cheaper than the toilets at Paddington Station!). Again I was making good time but the walk I had chosen seemed far more isolated than my time on Ben Nevis where I had come across some different characters. Despite the solitude and rocks going up I was lucky enough to stop for a drink of water and to take in the stunning views. It was dry so far and that was a relief. I had reached the end of my path and had to start making my way over some big boulders and was starting to wonder if I had gone the wrong way which would not be the first time on Scafell. Luckily I see a couple of walkers in the distance walking towards the summit so I knew I was heading in the right direction. It gave me a focal point to focus on. That’s a good motivation to have when you’re feeling a little mentally tired and starting to feel a few blisters. It was a bit deceptive at the top as I kept thinking I had made it and again I suffered from poor choice of footwear as, near the top, the boulders and track become slippery with ice.

****

I was happy to be at the summit in very good time in anticipation of the third leg on to Snowdonia. I reached a point in my path where I could have gone one of three ways and either down to my own stupidity or tired mind – it was Monday and I’d had 1 hour and 20 minutes sleep since Saturday morning – but I was not sure which way to go and for love nor money could remember the way I had come. It all looked the same to my unprepared eye. I chose a path and chose badly. It was not long before I realised I didn’t have a clue where I was but kept on my merry way hoping for a go home sign. I had very little drink left and was worried about time. I didn’t want to jeopardise the next walk on Snowdon by wandering in circles. I could not get a signal on phone to use maps but could use compass and knew I should be going north, which made sense because that was the way the water was flowing. So I decided to go north than follow the water once I got to ground level. It seemed like forever as the pressure heated up in my mind that I was going to be ruining my time and compromising my challenge. I just kept following the trail of the water in blind faith. After a while I was on ground level but still without a clue where I was. ‘Phone was dead. After passing sheep and cows I come across some other walkers which was such a relief when time was becoming so precious a commodity. It was an even bigger relief when they told me I was close to my destination – maybe a 30 to 40 minute walk following some path and road. It was such great and motivating news that, now I knew I going in the right direction, I could start burning some energy by jogging so I could make up lost time even though I was a lot slower than normal because of the blisters. It seemed I had gone in one big circle rather than going up and straight down. I will go back soon to work it out – it still annoys me as I got up in such good time. In the end it took me five hours, having got to the summit in around two hours. I have never been so happy to see a campsite – not a feeling I normally get on seeing tents. I’m a man who likes his luxuries and a hotel room. As I walked through the campsite towards the car park I came across three lovely girls at a tent with a barbecue burning and they offered me tea and food which I had to decline as I had a driver to find and another country to get to. If that’s not giving to all to charity than I don’t know what is! I got to the car park and Tony was not in it. He was in the girls’ tent. (Only joking!) I wandered around with bottom lip quivering for a while and when I spotted him, ran and give a way big hug. Challenge was still on. Poor Tony had been kicked out into another car park by campsite and he had been worried I was taking too long so had been looking. Luckily his ‘phone was dead too so I avoided the embarrassment of the Royal Marines coming to find me. It was time to kick on to Wales.

****

It was great to be driving on to the final leg but again, whether it was down to adrenaline or excitement at seeing pastures new, I just could not sleep. More roads, more petrol, more Vaseline on feet and in no time it seems we was at Pen-Y-Pass. My feet were in bits – a harsh lesson on the use of proper socks and footwear for next time and for anyone who bothers to read this. The weather in Wales was shocking. The rain was falling and it was blowy and cold. I greased up the feet one last time, told Tony to get some needed shut-eye as, unlike anyone else I come across, there was no hotel room for us at the end but another long drive home. I started up the Pyg Track just wanting to knock it out as quick as I could and again started really well but the one which I thought would be the easiest was to become the one I felt hardest. My feet were killing me with every step and I was trying hard to ignore the slicing pain. The rain was starting to get harder and it was harder to think properly with the lack of sleep I had. My coordination and balance was also getting very bad when clambering over boulders and rocks. I was starving too and had not took the time to refuel properly as I was just too eager to start and thinking of time which had been more of an obsession of mine than the more important factors of sleep, food, hydration and proper mountain wear. I had only snacked on bars and my body was feeling it. I started to see people that I had sailed past at the beginning going by me as I was being slowed by blisters and lack of fuel. I was running out of petrol and starting to regret not making the most of pit stops and not taking more pit stops. I trudged on secretly angry with myself. I tried to get some raisins and bars out of my bag, which was soaked, but I could not open anything – my hands were just too cold and not working. Very frustrating. It wasn’t till after that I thought I should have used my teeth or the knife in my bag but, as I said earlier, the grey matter between my ears was not working properly due to lack of sleep. I tried putting on gloves, which were also soaked, to get some warmth. Another lesson – take waterproof gloves. Reading this back I must sound really stupid, but most of my mistakes were down to complacency and a total lack of interest in ever being organised as anyone who has ever known me would testify. The clouds come down and it was so misty at the top I could hardly see a thing which was surprisingly scary in my current state. It was just a relief, to be honest, to get it over even though due to awful weather conditions and mist, I couldn’t see a thing by now. I just wanted to get down safely as it was so narrow and slippery on ice near the top of the ascent. Coming down I decided to cut across a little waterfall and climb down the steep rocks so I could make my way to the Miners Track because it was mostly tarmacked and I could maybe get one last run out of my feet and body to chase time. It was great to see the car through the grey pouring rain sitting in the car park when it came upon my horizon. I banged on the window to a startled Tony who told me the time had flown by. If only he knew. Ha ha! He had got some good shut-eye and it was time to kick off the Timberlands one last time and warm the hands so I could use them to get some food in my body. Tony started the car and we bid adieu to the mountains. We didn’t say much on the way home – we were shattered. It had been a great shared effort and we had shared an adventure.

****

I want to say thank you to Tony for sharing his time and effort with me for the cause. I also want to thank Angela who has tried tirelessly to bang the drum for charity and has liaised with the help of Wendy, Keith and David. Angela has had a lot of knock-backs and her faith tested in people to try and help raise money. Perhaps we are finding out how hard it is for the smaller charities to keep existing in these times of austerity. Also Bader Brave, Morgan, and his brother, Sammy, who have rattled the tin and badgered adults for money. And, of course, everyone who has given a cent to the charity. Thank you. I’ve seen first hand what it does and the love and commitment that goes into it. The Flying Days, weekends away, the effort of the people involved. It would be easy to bury your head in sand and just enjoy the riches of your own life but they don’t, they share the most precious commodity of all and that’s time. They help change kids’ lives for a short time and I’ve seen the smiles and confidence that those kids take from those experiences. It’s a great reason and cause for people to give money to. Thank you to everyone that did. And lastly thank you to the bravery of the Bader Braves.

****

* You can see a selection of dramatic pictures taken during David’s adventure by visiting the BADER BRAVES Gallery *

Hello everyone,

We’ve just received the latest updates from the SDGP (Scottish Disability Golf Partnership).

Anyone interested should contact the SDGP Direct via their Website: http://www.sdgp.co.uk/

UPDATE:

* PACE Rehabilitation provides a coordinated multi-disciplinary service to individuals who have sustained limb loss and/or serious limb injury, with clinical and manufacturing facilities are in Cheadle, Cheshire and Chesham, Bucks.

Please click HERE to visit the PACE Website for more information *

Nathan Doidge Reaches for the Sky to achieve his Private Flying License.

Nathan was born with cerebral palsy and is passionate about flying. At the moment he is thought to be the most profoundly disabled solo pilot in Britain. Nathan 32 who lives in Hayle, Cornwall, has flown many times over the past two years and logged a lot of pilot hours including 8 hrs. 40 minutes solo.

The Douglas Bader Foundation has awarded a 2012 Bader Grant to Nathan Doidge to enable him to achieve his goal of gaining his Private Pilot’s Licence.

Supported through the Bader Grants scheme, Nathan is attending the Aerobility facilities at Blackbushe with the intent of achieving his Private Pilot’s License. Nathan recently completed flying training including a return solo flight from Blackbushe to Goodwood where he had to complete landing and take-off procedures. He then went on to pass his NPPL NST (Navigation Skills Test) during his recent week there in April.

Aerobility is a charity offering disabled people, without exception, the opportunity to fly an aeroplane. Aerobility removes barriers and offers disabled people a real sense of achievement and genuinely changes people’s lives. Aerobility’s specially adapted aircraft fly from various airfields around the UK providing life changing trial flights and flight training. Supporting all disabilities, participants range from disabled kids through to soldiers recently wounded on active duty.

With this stage under his belt the tasks Nathan will have to complete upon his return in May include: a practice qualifying cross-country (QXC) flight with an instructor flying at least 100 nautical miles and landing at two different airfields before returning; the real QXC (solo); practice for the general skills test (GST) and the real GST. The GST itself is a practical flying test conducted by a qualified CAA examiner. Nathan will be expected to demonstrate a high degree of proficiency in all aspects of flying.

With his GST and Ground School exams passed, and the requisite number of flying hours completed, Nathan will finally be a qualified pilot and can apply for his license! When Nathan gets his licence he will be thought to be the most profoundly disabled qualified pilot in the UK!

Nathan’s speech is affected and so special procedures have been adopted to allow him the same air traffic services as everyone else. (Thanks go to air traffic controllers at Blackbushe, Farnborough and Goodwood for his recent solo flights.)

“Regarding your question about whether I’m finding it more difficult than I expected, I’d have to answer ‘Yes and No’, considering I began hoping to get my licence within the four weeks of my scholarship and it’s now two and a half years later, the answer is a resounding yes!’’ Nathan responded.

“There have been many hurdles along the way I’ve found extremely difficult to overcome and everyone else has often seemed to have had more faith in me than I have, particularly since my first solo.’’

” While this is nice,’’ he continued, ‘’the downside I’ve often found is this added a lot of extra pressure on me to succeed. With just about everything else I’ve done throughout my life, I’ve become more used to believing in myself and having to fight to convince everyone else, with the exception of my parents, of my ability. All that said, the theory exams were generally easier than I expected, as was making the progress I made while at Blackbushe over the past few weeks. Now, thankfully, my instructors say I’ve done the hardest part and the last couple of hurdles are relatively easy to overcome. I’m hoping that’s true.’’

Mike Miller-Smith, Chief Executive of Aerobility, who is profoundly disabled himself comments: “Nathan never ceases to amaze me with his positive spirit, a can-do attitude coupled with a will to live life to the full. At Aerobility we are lucky enough to support all sorts of disabled people, and as disabled people ourselves we know just what determination and effort it takes to achieve incredible things like flying. Nathan stands out from the crowd, and is a really inspirational character that we really enjoy working with. We too have worked hard to provide aviation opportunities for the disabled community and seeing Nathan’s achievements makes it all worthwhile.” Mike goes on to say: “We are also very pleased to be working with the Douglas Bader Foundation, an organisation with which we share many common attributes, and of course an organisation which also believes in the spirit of flight through its founding in memory of Douglas Bader.”

Philip Oakley is another new 2012 Bader Grant recipient selected as a leader for a five week British Schools Society (BSES) expedition to the Amazon Rain Forest during July/August 2012. Phil is a below the knee amputee keen to show that it is possible to take the ‘dis’ out of disabled. His challenge is to remain an effective ‘able’ leader on an ‘able-bodied’ expedition as a canoe and jungle leader. Philip added: “It’s brilliant news about Nathan going for his PFL. He must have a lot of guts and determination to spend the time and effort into even going solo let alone for his PFL. Having done some flying while I was in the RAF (I did a posting at the Empire Test Pilot School many years ago, but not as a test pilot) I know the exhilaration and feeling it is to fly and how liberated he must feel while up there. Also how much pressure and the workload needed to achieve the standard required. I hope he achieves his goal and he can set new levels of ability.’’

The Final words will be with Nathan who is currently writing his biography and knows the ideal ending to this chapter. Those words will be added later this month !

Please follow the links to see clips of some of Nathan’s flying achievements:

• Flip film of Nathan landing at Blackbushe taken by David Bickers/DBF 17th April http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=geRJ1BXvL7I
• Aerobility would like to congratulate Nathan Doidge for successful completion of his first land away, from Blackbushe to Goodwood and return (see picture above). http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=PHxvpqvP53o
• Nathan’s first solo in 2010: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=kjNBoIzSfIs

SOME BACKGROUND

Nathan was first enabled to fly through charities Flying Scholarships for the Disabled and Aerobility in 2009 - The Royal International Air tattoo Flying Scholarships for the Disabled Trust was first established in 1983. Inspired by the achievements of the famous disabled WW2 fighter ace, Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader CBE DSO* DFC*, it aims to transform and improve the quality of life of disabled people by providing scholarships enabling them to learn to fly . The FDS has now rebranded themselves as Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP). Aerobility’s specially adapted aircraft and instructors helped Nathan to solo in 2010. For more information about Aerobility visit www.Aerobility.com

Nathan’s flying progress following his disabled flying scholarship was supported and funded by Aerobility and a number of private individuals who wish to remain anonymous.

DBF met Nathan when he attended our Bader Braves Flying Day for children with disabilities at Bodmin last year. We were so impressed with him and his goal that we agreed to support him through the Bader Grants scheme.

Douglas Bader was commissioned as an officer in the R A F in 1930 but after only 18 months he crashed his aeroplane and became a double amputee caused by “my own fault” in an aeroplane accident in 1931. Douglas was discharged from the RAF and after the outbreak of the Second World War Douglas re-joined the RAF. Douglas was a member of 222 squadron and was promoted to lead 242 squadron. His skill as an aviator and contribution as an outstanding leader and fighter ace during WW2, along with his continuous attempts to escape prisoner of war camp after he was shot down, was immortalised in the book and film ‘Reach for the Sky‘.

The Douglas Bader Foundation is a charity organisation, formed in honour of Sir Douglas Bader in 1982 by family and friends, many of whom had flown side by side with Douglas during World War 2. Douglas was honoured in 1976 with a Knighthood for his contribution and work on behalf of the disabled. The mission of the foundation is to continue Douglas’ work in conjunction with and on behalf of individuals with a disability.

‘A disabled person who fights back is not disabled….but inspired’

It is this maxim that our charitable foundation established in Douglas’s name immediately following his death in 1982, seeks to replicate and develop. 2012 /2013 is our 30th Anniversary year.

Our Work: What We Do

Losing a limb is a terrifying, life-changing experience. Over the years we have developed a number of important initiatives and projects to support and inspire the amputee population including:

• The first online information hub for amputees & their families: limblossinformationcentre.com/
• The inaugural Amputee Games at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire
• “The Bader Braves” initiative which gives young limb deficient and disabled children the chance to fly, participate in adventure week-ends.
• Bader Grant scheme has assisted countless disabled individuals and groups throughout the UK to achieve a variety of goals in diverse areas ranging from education, the arts, sport and recreation to small businesses. We will look at all applications and, depending on the nature of the request, the scheme may help towards or provide the equipment, training, services, further education or other practical support required by the successful applicant.
• The Bader Cup is now in its 25th year and widely recognised as the largest National Mixed Greensome Stableford Golf Tournament in Europe

For further information please contact:

David Bickers Chief Executive Officer

The Douglas Bader Foundation

Mobile:+44(0)7836552536 Email:davidbdbf@hotmail.com

Web site: www.douglasbaderfoundation.com

Follow The Douglas Bader Foundation on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter.

CONGRATULATIONS TEAM McNAMARA!!!

While most of us have been pursuing our daily routine over the past couple of days (much of it, if your routine is anything like mine, sitting safely on our backsides!), David McNamara, valiantly assisted and supported by his driver, Tony White, has spent 23 hours and 40 minutes scaling not one but 3 mountains to complete the National 3 Peaks Challenge within 24 hours.

All the extensive planning and training have paid off. A great result!

To achieve his goal, David had to climb Ben Nevis (1,344 metres, 4,409 ft) in Scotland,

then Scafell Pike (978 m, 3,209 ft) in England,

and, finally, Snowdon (1,085 m, 3,560 ft) in Wales.

Remember – to accomplish the challenge, all 3 climbs and descents had to be completed within a 24 hour period. One day and night. This means adding the effects of the loss of a night’s sleep to the physical exhaustion of climbing. This represents a huge feat of fitness and endurance not to mention courage. It’s hard to imagine the sheer grit that must be required to keep going through whatever terrain, weather  and physical pain you encounter knowing that you are up against a self-imposed deadline. Tony, himself a double amputee, also  played a vital part in getting David from mountain to mountain in good time for the climb and being there to collect him after each descent. No mean feat on his part either.

Once David has recovered, we hope that he will send us a report of his challenge. This should prove fascinating, enlightening and inspiring reading and will be published on the Website so please keep checking in.

David undertook this extraordinary trial to raise money for the Douglas Bader Foundation, specifically the BADER BRAVES initiative as his son, Morgan, has participated in various BADER BRAVES adventures. We are deeply grateful to David, Tony and their able support team for his efforts and offer our heartfelt congratulations and thanks.

David dug deep – now you can too!

* It’s not too late to show your support of David. The JustGiving page will stay open until the 23rd May so you can register your admiration for the Team McNamara achievement in the form of a donation, which will go to a very worthy cause close to David’s heart. *

Please click on the link to go to David’s Just Giving Page (this may take a bit of time to download):

http://www.justgiving.com/david-mcnamara0

* You can learn more about the important work done by the Douglas Bader Foundation BADER BRAVES initiative by going to the BADER BRAVES section of the DBF Website *

Ben Nevis - South Face. Just one of the peaks David will be climbing

DAVID McNAMARA from Maidenhead, father of one of our Bader Braves, has taken on the amazing 3 Peaks Challenge on behalf of his son and to raise much needed funds for the Foundation and, in particular, the Braves project. David’s son is something of a Braves veteran having participated in a number of our Young Aviators Days as well as the Winter Wonderland Weekend earlier this year at Kielder.

The clock’s ticking and soon all David’s training will be put to the test as he’ll undertake this very tough challenge on the 23rd April. Unfortunately his trial run up Snowdon had to be cancelled as Morgan wasn’t well but he’s back on course now and enthusiastic to get on with it.

DAVID, a keen fitness enthusiast, said, “Morgan and the family have enjoyed the Bader Braves events enormously and we have all gained so much from them. The Douglas Bader Foundation do a great job in providing the funding for these events and I felt that I just wanted to do something to show our appreciation and try to make a contribution myself so that other kids can benefit”.

Above you’ll see an image of Ben Nevis. Remember this is just ONE of the mountains that David will be climbing on Monday 23rd! To attempt to climb the 3 highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales in one day represents a phenomenal effort:

• Ben Nevis (1,344 metres, 4,409 ft), the highest mountain in Scotland
• Scafell Pike (978 m, 3,209 ft), the highest mountain in England
• Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa (1,085 m, 3,560 ft), the highest mountain in Wales

The total distance walked is estimated at 42 kilometres (26 mi) or 44 km (27 mi), with a total ascent of 9,800 feet (3,000 m).

(Above taken from Wikipedia – to go to the entry where you can read more about the challenge, please click HERE)

All at the Douglas Bader Foundation are deeply indebted to David who is doing the challenge to raise funds for our BADER BRAVES initiative. We are also very grateful to Angela and the family for their support – I don’t think there could be a better champion than Angela – and not least, of course, to David’s driver, Tony White. Tony will also be undertaking something of a challenge in driving David the not inconsiderable distances required to get him from one mountain to another. Being a double below elbow amputee himself, Tony was particularly keen to be involved with the challenge and we extremely grateful to him and wish him well too.

GO THE TEAM!!!

David is going to be digging very deep on the 23rd to raise money for a very worthy cause.

Please, please dig deep yourselves to acknowledge and support his phenomenal efforts.

* You can show your support by helping David raise as much as he can in support of DBF
– get behind him by visiting his Just Giving page at http://www.justgiving.com/david-mcnamara0 *

* You can read a previous post where you can see Angela’s comments to get an idea of his preparations and quite what has been involved in this effort by clicking HERE

* We will also be posting a report about the climb when David has come down to earth – almost literally – and recovered enough to write (or dictate!) one so please keep checking in. ]]> http://limblossinformationcentre.com/2012/04/19/countdown-davids-digging-deep-please-dig-deep-to-support-him/feed/ 0 http://limblossinformationcentre.com/2012/04/03/in-florida-amputees-find-normal-life-on-the-golf-course/ http://limblossinformationcentre.com/2012/04/03/in-florida-amputees-find-normal-life-on-the-golf-course/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:57:35 +0000 wendy http://limblossinformationcentre.com/?p=3714

Army Sergeant Joel Tavera gets ready to swing at the Adaptive Golf Academy as his father, Jose, looks on. Timothy Bella

They’ve lost limbs and earned Purple Hearts for their service. Now an academy in Tampa is helping them regain what they want most: an everyday existence.

His 12-foot putt trickles past the cup, a late break in the green dipping the ball to the right. It’s a hazy, slightly windy Friday morning on the first weekend of March at Terrace Hill Golf Club in Tampa, Florida, and Joel Tavera’s instructor at the Adaptive Golf Academy tells him he likes his swing. A couple people on the putting green stop their putting sessions only to watch Tavera putt. His head covered under a blue bucket hat, Tavera cracks a couple of jokes, likening his golf game to Tiger Woods sans the women.But look closer and you’ll know that the scene of regular, everyday normality didn’t come easy. After 76 surgeries, Tavera, 25, remains in active duty until he finishes his operations, which he hopes will end after another nine or 10 surgeries.) Third- and fourth-degree burns cover more than 60 percent of his body. He is totally blind. Most of his fingers had to be cut off as they had been reduced to straight bone, “practically charcoal,” Tavera recalls. He’s missing a piece of his skull on the right side of his head, which will lead to surgery number 77 in September.

On March 12, 2008, Tavera, an Army sergeant just 12 days shy of his 21^st birthday, was inside an armored SUV in Tallil, Iraq, about 160 miles southeast of Baghdad, when five enemy rockets fired at the vehicle. The blasts killed three of his friends inside the SUV and left him in an 81-day coma, his life in jeopardy.

“I was so fucking dead that I couldn’t even stand,” says Tavera, who was in a wheelchair for the first year and a half, also trying to redevelop his speech. “I learned that that’s life because it’s not going to change. I wanted to appreciate the simple things in life.”

Perhaps forgotten amid Tavera’s battle scars is the fact that he’s also an amputee, having lost his right leg as a result of the attack in Tallil. Seeking a physical outlet, Tavera turned to the Adaptive Golf Academy, a school recognized for helping amputee, disabled and PTSD veterans learn golf as part of the rehab process. Since the academy was officially established in 2007, the school has helped a bevy of amputee veterans and active-duty soldiers — as well as those who’ve suffered physical setbacks such as result of a stroke or a car accident — use golf in one of the more advanced and consistent weekly adaptive programs in the country.

For a game that has been historically important for returning amputee war veterans, the sport continues to be a crucial rehab tool, a refuge for the recent wave of 20-something veterans and active-duty soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan looking to regain some semblance of regular civilian life. “They just want some normalcy, just want to be like anyone else,” says David Windsor, founder and CEO of the Adaptive Golf Academy. “If there’s a double amputee, a fella from Iraq, he doesn’t want to be in the news all the time. At the end of the day, he just wants to be a ‘normy.’ He wants to have that pride from his wife and kids. Just getting out and being able to take part in golf has been big.”

On this particular Friday session, more than 20 amputee and disabled veterans from James A. Haley Veterans Hospital join Tavera. Some of their service goes as far back as Vietnam. Others only recently returned from Iraq or Afghanistan. They are led by Windsor, 40, who wears a bucket hat similar Tavera’s and is smiling from ear to ear.

Members of the Amputee Veterans Support Team, who are regulars to the Friday sessions, are teeing off from their SoloRider golf carts: adapted single-rider golf carts with swivel seats that allow the amputees to hit the ball as they’re sitting down. Others are walking around the tees and adjacent putting greens, offering guidance to the new faces at the course. “We’re going to have an introduction to show you how easy this game is,” Windsor says to the group of visiting veterans and active-duty soldiers, all of whom initially look hesitant but won’t remain that way for long.

In January of 2000, Windsor was a PGA of America professional at a local club when a physical therapist asked him whether he’d be interested in helping a small group of physically disabled golfers, some of whom were veterans. Although he was more than happy to help, Windsor wasn’t quite sure what he would be able to offer. “I just remember people seeing getting out of their vans or cars with their spouses or caregivers and I’m thinking, ‘Holy cow,’” Windsor says. “I remember thinking, ‘How am I going to live up to their expectations?’ There was an intimidation on my part of how I could help these guys.”

The early days of the program gave way to primitive technology. Limited funding forced Windsor to use duct tape to manipulate the angle and handle of the golf clubs for some of the amputee golfers. Through several PGA and USGA grants, along with word of mouth, the academy began to build itself into one of the more recognized physical rehab programs for amputee veterans. Returning troops and older vets began traveling there from across the country as well as from nearby Tampa and Sarasota. Windsor’s Friday sessions, with amputee veterans from as far back as World War II, help the new wave of Iraq and Afghanistan amputees understand that they’re not alone.

“A lot of the young guys think they’ll never walk again,” says Rudy Salas, president of AVAST, the veterans support group that comes out every Friday. Salas, 65, is a Vietnam vet of the Marine Corps who lost his left leg during service in 1967. (Vietnam veterans suffered 5,283 amputations, the second greatest number among American conflicts.) “By them seeing us play golf as well as we do, they see that there is a future being an amputee veteran and it’s not on a corner selling pencils.”

***

What’s happening at the Adaptive Golf Academy is part of a larger evolving story. The rate at which soldiers have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan as amputees is greater than for any previous war, even while the number of wounded and deceased has been on the decline. It’s been a daunting challenge to quantify just how many amputees have come home from the current wars, but brand new data provided by Dewey Mitchell, spokesman for Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, helps paints a more comprehensive picture of what’s going on. From December 2001 through March 1 of this year, there have been a total of 1,443 amputee patients from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom treated in military facilities. (The numbers account for members of all the military services.) Among the 1,443 recorded amputee patients, 1,187 — or 82 percent of the cases — involved lower-body extremities. Last year, the amputation rate in Afghanistan reached its highest number with an average of 17.2 amputations a month, according to data from last month’s Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center’s medical surveillance monthly report.

But other research indicates that the amputee numbers could actually be slightly higher. In July 2009, there were at least 1,112 amputees among active-duty soldiers from Iraq and another 112 from Afghanistan, according to research from Michael Carino, senior health systems specialist for the U.S. Army Office of the Surgeon General. In a March 2007 TED talk, inventor Dean Kamen shared information a senior Department of Defense official had given him: 1,600 military personnel had come back from Iraq or Afghanistan back missing at least one full arm. In sheer numbers, these figures are significantly lower than those from other wars. But that’s because far fewer American soldiers have served and died in Iraq and Afghanistan than in the World Wars, Korea, or Vietnam. What’s striking is the percentage of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan who have needed amputations. These two conflicts have had the highest amputee-per-wounded soldier and amputee-per-deceased soldier rates in U.S. history, according to Carino’s data.

In Afghanistan, where soldiers on foot patrol are especially vulnerable to improvised explosion devices, the amputee population of returning U.S. military has seen a significant uptick since the surge. “If you look at those people who lost multiple limbs, that number has tripled from 2009 to 2010 as we went to Afghanistan,” says Kenton Kaufman, director of the Mayo Clinic’s biomechanics and motion analysis laboratory. He adds that the number of soldiers losing at least one limb doubled during this period.

Even with well-funded programs such as AVAST supporting amputee veterans and local VA groups, there is some concern about the resources made available for prosthetics and prosthetic upkeep — especially for a crop of especially athletic service men and women. “In Vietnam, a lot of the people who were injured were not exactly the cream of the crop as far as being good athletes in high school,” says Richard Holt, a retired U.S. Army surgeon who served as a civilian adviser in Iraq for the Medevac of wounded service members during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Holt, a head and neck surgeon at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, understands why younger amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan would turn to golf: this all-volunteer army has been more athletically engaged from the get-go than veterans from wars that required drafts. “When they come back, they want to continue. They don’t want that disability to limit their life.”

Currently, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is looking at the VA’s budget request for 2013. It sets aside nearly $2.6 million in obligations for prosthetics–an increase of 11 percent from 2011. says Congressman Bob Filner (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. The budget request also factors in $583 million for VA medical and prosthetic research, as well as an additional $165 million to augment medical care accounts. Filner says these figures are being reviewed carefully, and that the committee will do what it can to fully support amputee veterans with the appropriate resources.

Yet, there remains skepticism as to how much of the funding for the amputee vets and active-duty soldiers will be sustainable once the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan become distant memories. And this calls into question services and future grant money for programs like those at the Adaptive Golf Academy.

“After wars have faded from the public’s memory, Congress tends to be less generous with funding to provide healthcare and other services to veterans,” says Dave Autry, deputy national director of communications for Disabled American Veterans. “All these folks coming out now have these wonderful benefits, but how much longer is the government going to be that generous?” Since the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the number of pending veterans’ claims at VA for all periods of service has seen a 99 percent spike between March 2003, In March 2003, there were 568,711 claims, according to a recent quarterly report from Veterans for Common Sense, a nonprofit veteran advocacy group. In December 2011, there were more than 1.13 million.

***

Historically, golf has played a substantial role for amputee veterans and active-duty soldiers returning from war. As a resident of southwest Florida, Windsor knows this well. Now, more people are taking notice. Shortly after the session, Windsor talks about adaptive golf programs based on the Adaptive Golf Academy that he’s helped implement in Atlanta, Greenville, South Carolina, and Roanoke, Virginia, as well as others to be developed in upstate New York and Tennessee. (And that’s not even including the National Amputee Golf Association, which is built more on regional tournaments for amputee golfers, or the Salute Military Golf Association, which focuses on wounded warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan.)

Windsor is, for a lack of a better word, downright giddy. Questions about VA politics and future grant funding aside, Windsor, at his core, cares about what golf can do for others. He scours a group of roughly 30 to 40 clubs donated to the school, looking for a just a couple of suitable ones amid the vast pile of irons and woods dumped on the floor of an equipment shed. He resembles a kid on Christmas morning who spreads out all his toys in front of him, only to give them away five minutes later.

“These guys are broken,” Windsor says. “They’re missing something. They have new scars to think about because everyone is watching them. They’re going to question themselves. But when they get here, it’s a whole new brotherhood.”

Tavera never expected to turn to golf. In high school, he didn’t want to bug his father for a set of clubs, as he saw golf as an activity played by people at his school who came from money. Life is different now. Tavera is now a national spokesperson for Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit aimed at home projects for severely wounded and disabled veterans and their families. He can appreciate the simple things — hitting a ball straight off the tee, standing for nine holes, coming to the course every Friday morning with his father. He is calm, never getting too high or too low, understanding where he came from a little more than four years ago.

“I come out here and don’t think about what’s going on anywhere else,” Tavera says. He adds, “Amputation numbers are getting higher and higher and higher. Depression haunts a lot of guys after their amputations. It’s crazy. I have found other ways so that it doesn’t quite plague me or haunt me like it does for other guys I know. I had a second chance.”

From: The Atlantic – Timothy Bella (Timothy Bella is a journalist living in New York City)