KEVIN PYRKE : HOW DEPTHERAPY HAS CHANGED HIS LIFE
PACKED HOUSE HEARS FROM KEVIN PYRKE & HOW DEPTHERAPY HAS CHANGED HIS LIFE
Aquatic Element Dive Club in Windsor has adopted Deptherapy as its charity and at last night’s monthly club night there was an update on the latest Deptherapy programme which three members of the Royal Anglian Regiment attended.
The night started with a presentation on diving in Thailand by Sarah Garlick one of the Club’s Dive Masters – the link to Deptherapy being that Sarah and Ben Leonard a 21 year old Metropolitan Police Officer are going to do a Bikini Dive at Wraysbury Dive Centre in Surrey on 16 July to raise funds for Deptherapy.
Sarah was followed by club chairman and Deptherapy volunteer Richard Cullen who let slides and music tell the story of the last Deptherapy programme. After what was an emotional presentation Kevin Pyrke of the Royal Anglian Regiment and had been a participant on the June programme gave a very personal and emotive explanation of the benefits he had gained from the programme and the changes close friends had seen in him. He walked to the front of the room to a standing ovation and when he finished received a very emotional welcome from the club members.
Richard was able to tell members how Kevin hopes to progress through the PADI system to be an instructor, the support he is been given by PADI and their encouragement for hi m to apply for a PADI scholarship. John Carlin the former owner of Aquatic Element and now a PADI Regional manager who also happens to be a PADI Course Director offered to run Kevin’s Instructor Development Programme when he has progress through the various stages of his development.
Kevin hope to be able to pay back the investment in his attendance on the programme by eventually becoming a PADI and DDi instructor and himself acting as an instructor/mentor on future Deptherapy programmes.
At present we are seeking sponsorship for Kevin’s equipment.
Members of one of our garrisoned Regiment’s were present – The Household Cavalry who are keen to send some of their injured soldiers on the Deptherapy programme.
Comments from members about Kevin’s presentation were ‘What a stunning young man’. ‘What this guy and his comrades have gone through for us is tear jerking’, ‘What a brave young man’, and most tellingly – ‘What a difference Deptherapy has made to his life, I am going to do everything I can to find how I can get people to sponsor this programme – brilliant’.
SUPPORT THE WRAYSURY BIKINI DIVE on 16 JULY. To donate press the donate button at the bottom of the Deptherapy Home Page