Deptherapy Ambassador and former private in the U.K. Royal Engineers Ben Lee has been honored with an Endeavour Fund Award at a recent gala dinner at the Goldsmiths’ Hall, London.
Lee has used scuba diving with Deptherapy to aid his rehabilitation and recovery from devastating injuries he suffered in 2011. He was injured clearing improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan with the Royal Engineers. As a result he lost both his legs, as well as suffering other life-changing injuries.
Lee overcome his injuries to complete his Open Water certification in 2016, he also bested a deep-rooted fear of water as a result of a childhood near-drowning incident in a pool. After completing his course Lee has progressed rapidly, and is now a Master Scuba Diver and a trainee Divemaster.
After receiving the award, Lee stated:
“This has been an amazing journey and I am so honored to have been selected to receive this Award amongst so many incredible individuals . . . but this award isn’t about me. It is about Deptherapy and all my brothers and sisters in arms that the charity helps and supports. None of this would have been possible without the support of Richard Cullen (Founder and Chairman of Deptherapy) for whom I have the utmost respect.
“Deptherapy is a small charity, run entirely by volunteers. I personally don’t know how they do so much, with so little income. Richard and the Deptherapy Team have changed my life, just as they are changing the lives of many others.”
At the ceremony Lee was one of three injured former service personnel to be honored with an Endeavour Fund Award. The ceremony was attended by Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle.
Find out more about Deptherapy’s work here.
