TWO scuba divers who survived devastating brain injuries are to lead a 24-hour underwater scubathon to raise funds for a charity which helps people who have suffered a brain injury.

Members of Cheltenham Sub-Aqua Club, which is part of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), will work as a relay team to spend a full day underwater led by divers James Neal and Neal Breeden.

James, 47, a BSAC advanced diver and open water instructor from Symonds Yat suffered a devastating subarachnoid haemorrhage following the rupture of an undiagnosed aneurysm, which led to a grade four bleed on the brain.

Neal, 48, Cheltenham SAC’s secretary and a BSAC dive leader, also survived a brain injury, after suffering a major stroke in 2008, which left him needing to use a wheelchair.

Now the pair are organising the scubathon in aid of UK brain injury charity Headway, which supported James during his initial recovery. They hope to raise in excess of £2,500.

The dive will begin on Saturday 16th September and finish at midday on Sunday 17th September, at the National Diving and Activity Centre in Chepstow.

James, who has his own publishing company, said: “Cheltenham Sub Aqua Club has more than one diver that’s suffered a brain injury so it seemed natural to use our love for scuba diving to raise much needed awareness and demonstrate our support for Headway.

“I dive a great deal with Neal Breeden, it’s fantastic therapy for us both.”

He added: “We are both dedicated scuba divers and just love being in the water.

“It helps Neal as he isn’t disabled in the same way in water as he is out of it. We thoroughly enjoy diving together and get in the water as often as we can.”

James says, as well as supporting Headway, he wants to raise awareness of brain injuries and highlight some of the prejudices that go hand in hand with what is described as an ‘invisible disability’.

He added: “The sponsored 24-hour dive will take place on Saturday 16th September from midday. We intend to have two divers in the water at all times.

“It’s going to be a great team event and we initially set a target of raising £1,000 but we quickly got to £800 so we are upping the target to £2,000 and have the promise of corporate backing from one of the banks for a further £1,000 if we make it.”

Ali Hendley, manager at Headway Gloucestershire, said the money raised by the underwater scubathon would be very valuable and explained more about the charity which welcomes 125 survivors of brain injuries every week and also provides outreach support for those that can’t travel there.

“The money that is raised for Headway Gloucestershire can have a direct impact on how survivors live their lives after injury.

“It can make a significant and lasting difference to survivors, changing what they can achieve in their long term recovery from injury.”

To sponsor Cheltenham Sub Aqua Club visit: https:// mydonate.bt.com/teams/csac24

For further information about Headway Gloucestershire, to make a donation to the charity, or to pledge your fundraising or voluntary support, please visit www.headway gloucestershire.org.uk