The road to Toronto: register your interest to compete in the 2017 Invictus Games by 31 January
2016 saw 108 former and serving personnel compete across ten sports in the Invictus Games in Orlando. In 2017 Invictus once again promises to offer Wounded, Injured & Sick (WIS) personnel a unique experience and the benefits that sport brings to recovery.
Lt Kirsty Wallace shared her story of what competing at the Invictus Games has meant to her and the benefits it brought:
“I was one of the UK Team Vice-Captains for the 2016 Games, competing in wheelchair basketball, athletics and swimming. I also competed at the 2014 Games in basketball.
Being part of the Invictus Games is such a unique experience. It enables you to meet so many people from militaries across the world where you share the challenge of using sport to overcome adversity. You benefit from seeing how other people are using sport to aid in physical and mental rehabilitation as well as demonstrating what you can achieve to yourself, your family, friends, team mates and to the thousands of spectators that have so far watched the sports from the crowd and on TV. It’s the opportunity to realise that you are still you, just with different challenges and goals.
The Invictus Games team is for everyone on a recovery pathway. That includes PTSD and traumatic injuries gained in theatre, but it also includes people who have suffered sickness, illness or injuries at home. Cancer survivors, car crash victims, meningitis and ME sufferers have all got something to gain and something to prove at the games; it’s the range of abilities across the team that gives it its strength.
In just two Invictus Games, so many lives have already been changed. Some competitors have used it as a stepping stone to compete at the Paralympic Games, others have used the new found skills and confidence to re-engage with society gaining employment with companies that recruited specifically from the competitors.
It has been a privilege to compete with some amazing people, developing friendships while making me a fitter, stronger person.”
Registering your expression of interest to participate is easy, and over 700 members of current and former personnel already have. Just send an email with your contact details to ukinvictus@helpforheroes.org.uk by 31 January 2017. As a serving member of personnel, you should include the statement “I am a serving member of the RN/Army/RAF” (delete as applicable) and inform your Chain of Command that you have submitted an expression of interest.
