A Special Guest Day for wounded War Veterans

Through The Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Trust, Castle Craig offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to its patients. HBOT involves breathing 100% oxygen in a spacious, pressurised oxygen chamber.

Breathing oxygen under pressure has many benefits. It can:

• Help repair damaged bodies – the treatment increases tissue regeneration and decreases swelling and inflammation by increasing oxygenated blood-flow to damaged tissue and generating new blood vessels;
• Help to clear toxins, which is important during drug and alcohol detoxification;
• Help improve decision-making and controlling emotions by improving quality and quantity of sleep;
• Increase stem cell production by 800%, these cells regenerate damaged tissues in the pancreas, liver and brain and other areas affected by alcohol and drug abuse.

More about this if you wish: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b050qtr5/inside-out-yorkshire-and-lincolnshire-26012015

I spoke to both veterans who say that they feel the benefit after each session of HBOT. Perhaps something I should try!

To see more about their story, see: http://www.scotsman.com/news/oxygen-therapy-for-injured-soldier-1-3665847

Stephen is blinded in his right eye and paralysed down his right side, and Ben lost both legs and has extensive damage to his hands and body.

Seated at 20 metres, they enjoyed the use of Malcolm’s single shot Muzzle Loading pistol, 22 semi-auto rifles and Marlin lever action rifles and showed us that they could shoot as well as, if not better than, most of us.

Each was presented with a JSPC badge and Colin and Malcolm both donated their JSPC beanies. These gifts were greeted with big smiles of approval and thanks.

A lesson to us all, and next time you think to complain about your aches and pains, have a good study of the photos.

Well done everyone, and to Lea and those at Castle Craig who are doing such a wonderful job for “our boys”.

The mother of one visitor also had a go, shot for the very first time, and throughly enjoyed herself so much that she says she would like to take up the sport.