Summer Courses
Download our 2008 Summer Programme
Overcoming fears on a Back-Up course
Facedown in the water, I started to panic...
Used to helping others overcome their fears by teaching wheelchair skills, trainer Ian Gelately C5/6 recently attended a Back-Up Waterski week and actually had a few fears of his own to overcome.
“Six years ago I broke my neck when I hit a sandbar diving into the sea in Spain. I thought instantly that I was paralysed but things got rapidly worse when I realised that I couldn't move my arms and I was floating face down with no way of righting myself. I held on as long as I could but eventually had to take a breath. My lungs filled with salt water and I passed out.
I came round on the beach. My mates had dragged me out of the water and I was revived by the lifeguards.
When Sean asked me to come on the waterski course as a wheelchair skills trainer, I was pretty apprehensive. I can’t swim and I hadn’t been in water, apart from the hydro pool in the spinal unit, since my injury. I was definitely worried about being in a situation where I couldn’t right myself again. Trusting someone else to be there if I needed saving was a big step.
The instructors and buddies on the courses earned my trust when I went over on a corner. Just as I feared, I couldn’t keep my head out of the water and panic started to creep in. I must have been under for about 3 seconds before Roger was there pulling me back upright. I was scared, but realised that the support was there and from then on, I knew it would be ok. Roger told me what I should do if it happened again. Basically I just needed to take a big breath just before falling in and stay calm.
The next time it happened I was ready. I was a little further away from my buddy skier this time but I was completely certain that he was coming and only waited about 10 seconds before he was there. As I progressed with my water skiing I got more and more confident in the water. By the end of the week I was crossing the wake and apart from starting off, I was skiing independently. More importantly though, I had conquered my fear of water.
Doing a course with Back-Up gives you the security to try things safely with the knowledge that they know what they are doing and they’ve done it before. My first course with Back-Up was a ski week in Sweden in 2004 and I had similar worries before that one. All the courses I have done have given me the confidence to go off travelling again with my mates and have opened up possibilities that I wouldn’t have even considered when I was just out of hospital.
My advice to anyone thinking about doing a course this summer would be to go for it. Overcoming fears can give you a real sense of achievement as well as boosting your confidence... that’s what Back-Up is all about.”
Back-Up still has places on several courses this summer, so whether it’s waterskiing like Ian, a multi-activity week or even the city challenge in Edinburgh, give us a call today and we’ll see what’s right for you. Clink the links below to apply or contact courses@backuptrust.org.uk to find out more.
Interested in participating in our summer courses?
SCI Participant Application Form 2008
Buddy Summer Application Form 2008
Carers and Nurses application 2008
Personal Care Form - If you're spinally injured you must complete this form
We have been running summer courses for over 15 years specifically for people with spinal cord injury, led by people with spinal cord injury.
Back-Up runs a range of activity days, weekends and residential weeks that cater for both men and women, injuries from L4 to C1 (including those with high care needs) and those ranging from 4 months to 40 years post injury.
‘"The course made me realise that I can achieve so much more than I thought and I met a great bunch of people." Michelle, T12, aged 29
All courses rely on a mix of able bodied volunteers, medical professionals (we provide a carer if you need it and have physio’s and nurses on the majority of our courses) and spinally injured participants to take part in social activities that help develop skills that will stand everyone in good stead back home.
Why Back-Up is for you
- The majority or participants have never tried our activities before (either as a wheelchair user or as an able bodied person!)
- Our courses cater for people for all ages – 10 to 70 years of age
- Nearly half our participants are female
- We are experienced in working with all levels of injury – including ventilated tetraplegics
- Nursing and care is provided by Back-Up where appropriate
- You do not have to be fit to try an activity (just willing to give something new a go!)
- We never turn a spinally injured person away based on their ability to donate towards their course place
- Our summer courses are nationwide – from Exmoor to the Lake District!
‘The highlights were the laughter, the supportive atmosphere and the socialising. I would recommend Back-Up to anyone.’ Medical Professional
Courses:
Multi-activity courses
Sailing
Scuba
Water-skiing courses