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General Interest

Welcome to the GENERAL INTEREST PAGE where you will be able to read stories, articles or information of relating to Sir Douglas and the Foundation.

We welcome contributions so if you have a story you think is relevant and that you’d like us to include, please contact us.

We are very grateful to all who have supplied us with content for this page and hope you find it interesting.

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1. COLDITZ CASTLE – STEVE MCNEICE

Steve visited Colditz Castle, where Douglas Bader was held as a German prisoner of war, early in May and was able to experience for himself how hard the physical conditions alone would have been there for a double amputee. He said: “I can only admire DB as the slopes, cobble stones and terrain are not at all good for amputees!” By all accounts Sir Douglas had to resort to piggy backs when necessary and Steve didn’t have that luxury!

We are very grateful to Steve who returned with ‘Greetings and best wishes’ to Lady Bader and the DBF from the staff of Colditz Castle and for sending us this wonderful article.

2. INTERVIEW – GAUTAM LEWIS of Freedom in the Air interviews David Bickers (Chairman of the DBF)

Freedom in the Air is a fantastic organisation and one we know Douglas would have approved of wholeheartedly. To quote from their Website: “Freedom in the Air is a unique flying school specifically for people with disabilities based in the UK. We challenge, we educate, we give transferable skills through learning to fly. Flying aeroplanes can raise people’s sights, expand their horizons, improve their life chances and fulfull their potential. We want to train pilots with disabilities who can emulate the unbreakable spirit of air ace Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader.”

Gautam Lewis, founder of Freedom in the Air, and himself still dependent on crutches as a result of his battle with polio, fulfilled a childhood dream by qualifying as Pilot in 2007. He shares his love of flying with Sir Douglas and here you can see his fascinating interview about the great man with David Bickers, Chairman of the DBF and Douglas’s son-in-law.

You can learn more about Freedom in the Air by taking a look at their Website: http://www.freedomintheair.org/home/

Introduction

The Douglas Bader Foundation is a charity organisation, formed in honour of Sir Douglas Bader in 1982 by family and friends, many of whom had flown side by side with Douglas during World War 2. Douglas was honoured in 1976 with a Knighthood for his contribution and work on behalf of the disabled. The mission of the foundation is to continue Douglas' work in conjunction with and on behalf of individuals with a disability. read more >
 
FOLLOW THE DOUGLAS BADER FOUNDATION ON FACEBOOK
Bader Braves
LLIC Limb Line

There’s already our popular Forum for information, support & chat. But sometimes you may feel in need of something extra.

You’re special to us you know! So we thought you’d like a more personal service for more specific advice or maybe to make a 1-2-1 contact with another amputee.

Just email Leggz at leggzhelpline@live.co.uk

Bader Golf
The Bader Cup Golf Tournament

THE BADER CUP was started in 1987, and is now widely recognised as the largest National Mixed Greensome Stableford Golf Tournament in Europe.

John Southwick founded the Tournament to raise funds for The Douglas Bader Foundation. He still organises the competition.

Please see the Bader Golf Page and the nested Bader Cup pages on the left hand menu bar.

For more information, a brochure or to enter and help to raise money for a good cause, please visit John Southwick's dedicated Website:

www.thebadercup.co.uk
Bader Golf Sponsors
Associated Companies
ART to FLY
Art to fly

Art to Fly, a specialist aviation artwork Website, was created by Pat Barnard, long-time friend of Sir Douglas, as a way of supporting the Douglas Bader Foundation disabled children’s Flying Days.

You can find out more about Art to Fly and the aviation paintings and drawings, aircraft prints and books – all signed by famous WW11 pilots and carefully selected and attractively priced for aviation art collectors - by visiting the Website:

www.arttofly.org

As Art To Fly is a non-profit organization, 100% of the profits of any sales go to help disabled children experience the joy of flight through the Douglas Bader Foundation’s “Bader Braves” Flying Days programme, details of which can be found on this Website.

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