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How many people see a need for something in the world, yet only see and never do? Roger Muller is thankfully one of those rare human beings who not only recognised a chance to improve others’ lives – he made it happen. When travelling in Cayman with his brother, a Marine Corps combat veteran and paraplegic due to injuries sustained in Vietnam, Roger saw how much he enjoyed diving. The feeling of weightlessness in the water and the sense of freedom made the trip an amazing experience. At that point Roger realised how many others who were similarly afflicted could benefit from such a trip, and so he created Stay-Focused.
In the past ten years, Roger has worked tirelessly to raise funding for this very important organisation.
Described as a programme to “enable young teens and adults with disabilities to become certified SCUBA divers,” Stay-Focused brings several groups to the Cayman Islands each year, working with local dive partner Red Sail Sports.
In the beginning Roger cashed out his retirement fund to provide much-needed support to Stay-Focused, but over the years he has obviously looked for sponsorship to sustain and expand the programme. Fundraisers have been held, and he has approached many companies and private individuals in the hope that they will join the board to keep Stay-Focused a going concern for the future. It costs approximately $5,000 per student, which is a small price to pay when you see what an impact such an experience can have on the participants’ lives.
Roger has long-terms plans for Stay-Focused – his ultimate goal is for past students to take over the running of the organisation, hence a mentorship programme was started in 2007 where previous Stay-Focused divers come down to assist first-timers with their courses and becoming comfortable with the training. Two such successful graduates are Ryan Chalmers and Brian Siemann, students on a track scholarship at the University of Illinois. Both are wheelchair athletes, and both are prime examples of what you can accomplish if you put your mind and heart into it. They participated in the Cayman Islands Marathon 2010 whilst handling a tight schedule of interviews from the local media in a very short trip. They are hardworking extraordinary young men with a zest for life who speak passionately about Stay-Focused and their love of SCUBA diving. They are excellent representatives of the programme, and clearly Roger is very proud of these two shining stars.
Stay-Focused is always looking for financial support to give more and more of these deserving youngsters a chance to experience their dream – learning to dive in the Cayman Islands; a vacation like no other. It is such an incredibly worthwhile organisation, and one in which you would be welcome to invest. Roger Muller began this when he recognised a need, and he put his money where his mouth was. Surely we can assist in some way? One hundred per cent of the donations go towards airfare, hotels, meals, scuba rentals and dive instruction.
For more information on Stay-Focused, visit stay-focused.org or email Roger at roger@stay-focused.org