Shark! Emma’s SIA Challenge
We have turned our costs case article over to Emma Woolley, from our Engagement and Development Team, this week as she embarks on a dangerous mission to help fundraise for the Spinal Injuries Association. On Saturday 26th March 2022 Emma is set to dive with Sharks!
Emma answered the appeal to “Get Involved” with the Spinal Injuries Association and accepted this new event to dive with sharks at the Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire Oaks. She’ll be diving in one of Europe’s largest collections of sharks including spectacular sand tiger sharks, graceful guitar sharks, beautiful black tip sharks, along with sting rays and tropical fish. Weighing in at up to 350lbs and at lengths of 3.2m the sand tiger sharks are by far the largest in the tank!
This is a fundraising event for the Spinal Injuries Association and in 2021 the SIA have supported 13,300 SCI people and their families. Their other achievements include:
- 2,359 sessions with their SCI nurse specialists
- 312 healthcare professionals trained by SCI nurse specialists
- 155 Emergency care plans created for SCI people
- 100 talks given to charity and healthcare partners by their SCI nurse specialists
- 46 virtual cafes run to help SCI people feel connected to community
There are around 50,000 people living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) in the UK, and approximately 2,500 people sustain or acquire a spinal cord injury each year. That’s one person every eight hours!
SIA support SCI people and their families through their regional support coordinators, specialist SCI nurses, support line and counselling service, as well providing advocacy, CHC advice and campaigning for change. Please sponsor Emma, so that they can continue and expand this life changing work.
We asked Emma about the dive and this is what she told us from dry land, “I’m looking forward to the experience knowing I’ll receive full instructions from the team at the Blue Planet Aquarium. As for the close up shark encounter I just hope the Sand Tiger Sharks will have been fed before we jump into the tank!”
Good luck to Emma and all those taking part in the first shark dive experience for Spinal Injuries.
You can donate to Emma’s JustGiving page by clicking here: Emma’s Shark Dive.