UASBC Event - Wheels for Gary (Invitation)
Fundraiser:
Wheels for Gary
WHEN: June 20 at 6:00pm
WHERE: The Vancouver Maritime Museum
The Vancouver Maritime Museum in conjunction with the Underwater Council of BC, the Underwater Archaeological Society of BC and UrtheCast present underwater explorer and extraordinary storyteller:
Dr. JAMES DELGADO
Gary, a well-known and well-loved member of the Dive Community and the Underwater Archaeology world in B.C., has a long and varied history of adventure. Unfortunately, due to an untimely accident, Gary now finds himself a C-6 quadriplegic, with almost no movement in his arms, and no movement in his hands. As he can now only drive a wheelchair, and owns a very old Corvette that he must now sell, he is in need of some suitable wheels! These wheels are not cheap.
Gary has had a long and varied career, making movies as a partner in Subsea Enterprises Inc. with Neil McDaniel, finding shipwrecks galore, and even had valuable bits of shipwrecks "fall off" into his hands after many dives to the same spot at 120ft (on good old air). He was given a bit of stunt work too, doubling for Robert De Niro in “We’re No Angels”. Gary has been involved in many different aspects of diving and the marine world, including commercial diving, film and video production, still photography, high-pressure air compressor servicing, marine coordination in the movie industry, etc.
Gary is a local hero too! He acquired a chronic shoulder injury some years ago in a very unique situation. Gary awoke one night, smelling smoke and saw a house in his neighbourhood in flames. Being a good Samaritan, Gary rushed over to find a woman in panic trapped on an upper floor. She jumped, and he caught her (as he had promised) and ended up in hospital requiring surgery on his shoulder.
In 1994 a historical documentary about Operation Hailstone at Truk Lagoon was shot during the 50th Anniversary of the attack on Truk Lagoon during WWII. Gary and Wet Film Productions (a division of Subsea Enterprises) partnered with Dusmar Productions and "Arts and Entertainment" to produce a film, titled “The Legacy of Truk Lagoon.” Gary was co-producer and production manager. There they discovered the long-lost Katsuragisan Maru.
Recently Gary formed Trieste Productions and commissioned a screenplay based on the true story of two men trapped at the bottom of the North Atlantic in the Pisces III submarine. The book about the actual event is called “No Time on Our Side.”
Now, instead of having time to dive, and play, and drive his Corvette, and rescue people, and find shipwrecks. Gary finds himself limited to his wheelchair. While he has time on his hands, his hands can no longer do much with that time.
We want to raise $20,000 for a fine wheelchair with some interactive features, such as an iPad that he can control through a sip 'n' puff interface.
Please help us help Gary become more mobile and more engaged with the world he had so much adventure in. We appreciate your support.
