Hunter Heck In the early hours of October 6, 2012, Hunter Heck was walking with his cousin on his way to a friend’s apartment. Hunter, a junior at Miami University, had recently found his niche in the campus gymnastics club and had just left a party the group was putting on that night. Up to…
Cory Cook Cory Cook met another Dive Pirate while working as a Re-Walk ambassador, and has always thought about diving. So he applied to the Foundation and joined us on our June 2019 trip to Cayman Brac. In 2012 Cory dove into shallow water, fracturing his C-7 vertebrae, causing paraplegia. After intense therapy and rehabilitation, Cory is…
Steve Holbert Retired Corporal Steve Holbert, US Marines, joined the Marines right out of high school at age 17. He spent four years serving his country as an avionics technician. He then left the marines and continued the same occupation as a civilian. All the while pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot. Eventually working his…
Louise Estabrook Louise Estabrook first snorkeled on her honeymoon and fell in love with the water. Later, she did try scuba and knew someday she would see the world below. Now, she is now dealing with a progressive neurological disease. It is an inherited condition that started affecting her motor control when she turned 50. Retiring…
Brian “Pat” Kipf It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the passing of 2018 recipient Brian “Pat” Kipf. We met him in 2017 when he applied to the foundation. Pat and his wife Shelia were selling their business and planning to move to Florida so Pat could be near his beloved…
Dive Pirates open the door to adaptive scuba diving to people with different abilities. It all started with three women sitting around the table. After a great day of diving, they started talking about their new certifications as adaptive scuba instructors. Who can we teach? Who would have interest? As news of the middle east…
Brendan Downes Brendan Downes has always been active. Early on, he learned his Spina Bifida did not define him nor his desire to be active. When he started using a wheelchair in 4th grade, he joined wheelchair basketball. He went on to play for University of Arizona. He tried scuba at camp and realized it was…
Danny Fik Danny Fik was born with spina bifida with tethered cord syndrome. He had to undergo multiple surgeries to free his spinal column to allow growth. The last surgery was not successful, and he began to use a wheelchair for mobility fulltime at age 13. Little did the world know, he would use that…
US Army Major Lisa Jaster headlines 15TH Annual Dive Pirates Ball WHAT: 15th Annual Dive Pirates Ball to include an online silent auction, live auctioneer, 2018 recipient, Retired USMC Major Waheed “WU” Khan WHO: Supporters of the Dive Pirates Foundation, past and present recipients, many dressed in pirate flair. Maj. Waheed “WU”…
Retired Major Waheed “Wu” Khan, USMC Retired Major Waheed was born in England and served in the US Marine Corps for 24 years with multiple commands and deployments, including the first Gulf War, Somalia, Kosovo, Colombia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. His American counterparts took his initials W.U. Khan from the back of his uniform and created…