DATELINE: 17th August 2001

DISABLED WORLD TOUR
Three Nottingham divers hope to play a part in the Around the World in Eighty Ways project which, in 2002, will enable two disabled people to experience 80 different forms of travel on a journey around the globe.
Project creator Robin Dunseath, a retired public relations consultant, has worked to attract sponsorship and television coverage for the campaign that will raise money for causes serving disabled people.
Dunseath hopes to set off in Summer 2002 to guide the adventures of Miles Hilton-Barber, Project Manager for the Institute for the Blind, who has been blind for 20 years; and Mike McKenzie, a Scottish businessman, who has lost his legs and is paralysed from the waist down.
Both of the disabled men are seasoned travellers who will be able to cope with the widely varying travel forms, such as riding on camels and elephants. Sometimes, though, the term "travel" will be bent a little to cover what is more an adventure activity than a mode of transport; skydiving, say, or abseiling, hang-gliding - or diving, if the three Nottingham divers get their way.
PADI Divemasters Darren Brookes and Catherine Hall, together with Phillip Elson, a PADI Open Water Instructor, have suggested to the project committee a five-mile underwater swim in the Red Sea, using scuba and diver propulsion vehicles.
"The feedback is that our idea is likely to be adopted," Darren Brookes told Divernet. "Catherine, Phil and I will undergo training to allow us to teach Miles and Mike to dive as disabled people. We'll train them to PADI Open Water level before accompanying them out to the Red Sea and acting as buddies for their five-mile journey."
Darren, Catherine and Phil are looking for sponsorship, including six loaned propulsion vehicles and loaned scuba gear for the two disabled divers.
Contact Darren Brookes on 0115 914 1699 or darrenbrookes@totalise.co.uk

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