Roots Red Sea was the Egyptian base of operations for Deptherapy, and while the charity has now closed its doors, its long-standing relationship with the resort has been memorialised in a dedicated garden, complete with inscribed Welsh slate plaques that were presented to Roots by Deptherapy over the years.
Roots Red Sea's Steve Rattle explained: “Deptherapy may have closed as a charity, but the spirit and ethos lives on, as do the amazing memories from past visits.
“The teams at Roots Red Sea and Pharaoh Dive Club have made sure that they won't be forgotten, and during our recent renovations, have added a Deptherapy garden at the dive centre.”
Richard Cullen, who was chair of Deptherapy, said: “Our close relationship with Roots continues and a group of us have just returned to the UK after spending a great week of diving there.
“I know we are all massively touched by Steve and his teams creating the Deptherapy garden. On our next visit we will discuss with Steve if we can formally dedicate the garden.”
Chris Middleton, Deptherapy beneficiary and Ambassador, commented: “It is impossible to say how much this gesture means to the guys. It allows us to reflect on our service and the work of Deptherapy.
“Importantly, It will remind us that we are the lucky ones, however severe the mental or physical challenges we bear, we returned home and for us to say of our comrades who paid the ultimate sacrifice: ‘When you go home, tell them of us and say that for your tomorrows we gave our today'.”