WHEN three men discovered the lack of services in Warrington for fellow amputees they were determined to establish a dedicated support network.

With the help of Warrington Disability Partnership, a group for people affected by amputation will be held every month in the Centre for Independent Living in Sankey Bridges.

It will be able to offer advice and support to amputees and their friends and family while showing them that they are not alone.

Neil Davies, a double amputee, wanted to get Warrington on the map for supporting amputees.

He explained: "Through diabetes and complications I lost both my legs in 2015."

While in hospital, a nurse told Neil he might be best sticking to playing dominoes rather than attempting to play golf again.

He said: "I wasn't excepting that and I was hitting the golf ball again after six months.

"I came over here looking for another golfer to play with and it become clear that there are other amputees who want to take part in activities but there are no groups at all in Warrington."

Damien Harper, trustee of the Amputee Foundation based in St Helens is bringing his expertise to help with the project.

He said: "I had bone cancer when I was 17 and lost one leg but I have done lots of really good things."

Damien will be climbing Kilimanjaro next month, along with fellow amputee Rebecca Legon, to raise awareness around disability and difference.

He will be attempting to break a world record as the first British hip disarticulation amputee to reach the summit.

He said: "For me, it's a personal thing because doctors said I would never walk again.

"We're raising funds and we're giving hope to amputees, showing them that you can have a good life and there's nothing you can't do."

Mark Williams, director of Limb-art Ltd lost his leg in 1982 when he was just 10 years old.

He recalled: "I was cycling home, I'd just passed my cycling proficiency, and I got hit by a car.

"They told us they had good news and bad news.

"The good news was that Princess Diana had just had a baby and the bad news was that I would lose my leg."

After the tragic incident, Mark got into swimming and even managed to compete for team GB at the Paralympic games.

He bought home medals from the pool in the 1988 Seoul Paralympics and 1989 Miami World Championships.

Despite this success, he says the work he does now, creating fun and attractive prosthetic leg covers, is extremely rewarding.

He said: "About five years ago I made my prosthetic a cover to give it more of a shape.

"I now make prosthetic leg covers for amputees all over the country.

"You wouldn't believe the difference it makes to people's confidence."

Dave Thompson, chief executive of Warrington Disability Partnership, added: "Our whole philosophy is about a can do attitude.

"We're trying to get people to be proud to be disabled.

"There's a fundamental change going on in society- it's the way forward."

The informal support group will be taking place between 11am and 1pm on the following dates in the Centre for Independent Living, with refreshments provided.

  • Thursday, October 17
  • Thursday, November 21
  • Thursday, December 19

To donate to Damien's Kilimanjaro climb, click here.