Jay_Benson
19-07-2008, 21:12
Ashbourne Sub-Aqua Club were again privileged to host two ‘Have-a-Go’ sessions at Ashbourne Leisure Centre for the Belarus children brought into our area by the Chernobyl Children’s Life Line charity. As part of this year’s programs of events to entertain the children the charities local organiser, James Archer, asked if we would be able to accommodate those children who wished to have-a-go with SCUBA gear. We were only too delighted to have the opportunity to do so once again! After several years of running ‘have-a-go’ nights for this most noble of charities I really do not know who enjoys it more. The children whose faces tell an incredible story over the course of the night from apprehension and a little fear through to huge beaming smiles and laughter or the instructors – with if I’m honest – just the same range of emotions. One thing is for sure and speaking for the instructors on the night, everyone had a fantastic experience.
This year saw 7 children take up the challenge of blowing some bubbles in our local pool – with the same number coming next week. After conducting a briefing session in the viewing area where we welcomed everyone to the club, explained what all our hand signals meant and what was going to happen in the pool we hit the pool kitted up into SCUBA gear ready and got ready for the off. As is usual some were quite hesitant and some were very enthusiastic but after a while they all settled down to experience that wonderful feeling of being able to breath under water whilst being weightless – magic! We kept to the shallow end until each child was happy enough to venture into the deep end where the increased depth allows us to perform cart wheels, hand stands, loop the loops and barrel rolls – great fun! All too soon we had to end the session due to time simply flying by. During the session one of our members took an underwater camera into the pool so that each child could take home a well deserved souvenir of the night.
Following the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl various charities do so much to help give the children, who have no choice but to live in the contaminated area, a respite from the background radiation. The Chernobyl Children’s Life Line charity is the charity operating in our area. It is estimated that by taking the children out of the effected area for one month their life expectancy is increased by several years – that has got to be worthwhile. Through a mutual friend Ashbourne Sub Aqua Club were asked if we might be able to host a night’s entertainment. We are just so glad of that coincidental chat of a few years ago that we really look forward to the next year to meet the new ‘characters’ that James is able to bring over.
The members and committee of Ashbourne Sub Aqua Club would like to express their most sincere gratitude to Go-Dive, Derby for their continued support to Ashbourne Sub Aqua Club by the free loan of extra small equipment for us to us on the night. Also thanks must go to the Bowling Green public house for all the extra Butties etc and to each member of Ashbourne Sub Aqua Club who found the time to help assemble all the gear, organise and run the sessions at the pool.
__________________
Jay
This year saw 7 children take up the challenge of blowing some bubbles in our local pool – with the same number coming next week. After conducting a briefing session in the viewing area where we welcomed everyone to the club, explained what all our hand signals meant and what was going to happen in the pool we hit the pool kitted up into SCUBA gear ready and got ready for the off. As is usual some were quite hesitant and some were very enthusiastic but after a while they all settled down to experience that wonderful feeling of being able to breath under water whilst being weightless – magic! We kept to the shallow end until each child was happy enough to venture into the deep end where the increased depth allows us to perform cart wheels, hand stands, loop the loops and barrel rolls – great fun! All too soon we had to end the session due to time simply flying by. During the session one of our members took an underwater camera into the pool so that each child could take home a well deserved souvenir of the night.
Following the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl various charities do so much to help give the children, who have no choice but to live in the contaminated area, a respite from the background radiation. The Chernobyl Children’s Life Line charity is the charity operating in our area. It is estimated that by taking the children out of the effected area for one month their life expectancy is increased by several years – that has got to be worthwhile. Through a mutual friend Ashbourne Sub Aqua Club were asked if we might be able to host a night’s entertainment. We are just so glad of that coincidental chat of a few years ago that we really look forward to the next year to meet the new ‘characters’ that James is able to bring over.
The members and committee of Ashbourne Sub Aqua Club would like to express their most sincere gratitude to Go-Dive, Derby for their continued support to Ashbourne Sub Aqua Club by the free loan of extra small equipment for us to us on the night. Also thanks must go to the Bowling Green public house for all the extra Butties etc and to each member of Ashbourne Sub Aqua Club who found the time to help assemble all the gear, organise and run the sessions at the pool.
__________________
Jay