DISC Patrons

Disc staff and trustees had spent around two years looking for suitable patrons. It was strongly felt that whoever was chosen needed to have a number of important qualities: they should be a disabled person themselves, be able to encourage and motivate other disabled people, be ambassadors for the service publicising it's existence outside Preston and they should also be able to reflect the positive ethos and culture of the organisation.

Darren Swift and Alstair Hodgson were guest speakers at Disc's Annual general meeting in 2002. After listening to them speak it was obvious that 'Al & Swifty' were the people we had been looking for. They are both very positive people, positive about heir own disability - seeing the challenges that being disabled can bring rather than the barriers.

They are high achievers, both skilled and experienced skydivers, winning a gold medal in 2003 at their first team event, competing on an equal basis and with the same scoring system as their non disabled colleagues.

Their positive outlook also inspires other people to take on those challenges, without it 15 disabled people would not have dared to take part in 'Tandem Skydives' during the summer of 2003, and Disc as an organisation would not have dared to organise it - imagine the risk assessment on that one!

''We were both honoured to be asked to be patrons of Disc. Preston and the North West can only benefit from the hard work and committment of this dedicated organisation. They not only work tirelessly for and with disabled people within the community but strive successfully to empower those that can sometimes feel powerless, something that we both feel strongly about.''

Al and Swifty, Disc Patrons.