The sterling work of scuba rehabilitation charity Deptherapy has been recognised once again with a prestigious military award.
Dr Richard Cullen, Chairman and one of the Founders of Deptherapy & Deptherapy Education, was presented with the Veterans’ Foundation Award at the Heropreneurs Awards in association with The Telegraph, celebrated last week in London. As part of this recognition, the charity receives a much-needed donation of £10,000 from sponsor, The Veterans’ Foundation.
Triple amputee Josh Boggi diving sidemount. Photo – Dmitry Knyazev
Peter Mountford, the Chairman of Heropreneurs and Founder of the Heropreneurs Awards, said:
“The Heropreneurs Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, and their dependants, in the world of business. Richard has created a charity that is very special. Helping injured veterans through scuba diving is a proven and effective method and I am delighted that Richard has won this award”.
Josh Boggi in Egypt on expedition with Deptherapy. Photo – Dmitry Knyazev for Deptherapy
This exciting announcement follows a month of outstanding achievements for the charity. Last week, Deptherapy announced that Team Member Josh Boggi has been nominated in the Royal Foundation’s 2019 Endeavour Fund Awards, which follows Ben Lee’s award earlier this year.
Dr Richard Cullen. Photo – Stuart Green for Deptherapy
Former Royal Engineer Josh first dived with Deptherapy in 2017 and has subsequently followed a continuing education programme with the charity that last month saw him achieve his Rescue Diver qualification whilst on expedition in Egypt.
Josh is now the world’s first triple amputee PADI qualified Rescue Diver.
Josh explains:
I first tried scuba diving in the Maldives in 2016 and fell in love with it instantly. After joining Deptherapy, I qualified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver in Egypt and continued my diving education with the charity in Truk Lagoon. This October, I returned to Egypt to attempt to complete my PADI Rescue Diver course.
I was under no illusion that this would be easy and I was told I would have to hit standards, and then some, to pass the course. It was physically and mentally hard, and at times frustrating, but I managed to adapt and overcome all the challenges that were thrown at me and I passed! Becoming the world’s first triple amputee PADI Rescue Diver is great but not why I did it, I wanted to further my diving education and become a better diver.
The Ocean terrifies me; every time I go underwater I think I am going to be attacked by something bigger than me, but this is exactly why I do it. It takes me out of my comfort zone and puts me in a position where I am constantly being challenged. Doing these endeavours helps me to overcome that fear and to prove people wrong when they question how a triple amputee can be a Rescue Diver.
Josh was recently interviewed about his latest achievement by ITV news and the footage can be seen on the ITV channel here.
Dr Richard Cullen collects the Veterans’ Foundation Award alongside Josh Boggi. Photo – Heropreneurs
The 2019 Endeavour Fund Award Winners will be announced at a special ceremony on 7thFebruary in London.
