Six veterans from North East and North Yorkshire heading to Invictus Games Toronto 2017
Six wounded veterans from the North East and North Yorkshire have been chosen to represent the UK at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017.
They're among the team of 90 wounded, injured and sick serving military personnel and veterans announced at a special ceremony in the Tower of London attended by Prince Harry, Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation.
They are medically-retired Army Captain Ken Hargreaves who lives in Northumberland; former Royal Marines Corporal Ian Ronald from Sunderland,ex-Army Corporal Ian Young from CoDurham, former Army Medic Paul Nichol from Catterick, his near neighbour Seveci Navelinikoro and last year’s GB captain David Wiseman from York.
Captain Ken Hargreaves says he is honoured to have been asked to become a member of the UK team representing them in archery. The 56-year-old from Elsdon was seriously wounded in Iraq in 2003 while working as an army nurse, specialising in trauma, on the front line. This left him with multiple medical issues including spinal injury, hearing loss and organ damage.
Ian ‘Roni’ Ronald cameround from a 12-hour operation to remove a brain tumour, to find himself paralysed from the neck down and unable to speak. Fortunately those conditions were only temporary – with intensive therapy, his speech eventually returned and, after seven months in a wheelchair, he slowly got back on his feet.However, damage by the tumour to his nerves and brainstem left him with bad co-ordination issues and put an end to his career in the Royal Marines. Since then he's worked hard to regain his independence and his fitness. Rowing, in which he will compete in Toronto,has played a large part in that.
Athlete Ian Young from Shotley Bridge channels the ‘buzz’ he gets taking part in sport into his daily life to make sure he approaches every day with a positive attitude to improve his mental health.
“Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on my condition. It also relieves stress, improves memory and helps me sleep better while boosting my overall mood,” he explained.
For swimmer David‘Wisey’ Wiseman from York, this year’s Games will be his third. The former Army captain suffered a gunshot wound to thechest which led to the end of his military career. He was then diagnosed withPTSD after witnessing comrades die while on tour and after help for his mental health issues, he believed he had conquered them, but suffered a relapse last year and is now receiving support to overcome his symptoms once again.
Army Veteran Seveci (known as Nav) who lives in Brough with St Giles just outside Catterick Garrison, has a mild traumatic brain injury causing memory loss and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, headaches,tinnitus and hearing loss in his right ear. He also has nerve damage to his lower back and a damaged left hip, meaning he cannot sit for long periods.
The 38-year-old was part of the 2014 and 2016 Invictus Games and, this year, will be competing in sitting volleyball, wheelchair rugby,shot put and discus.
Paul Nichol,who grew up in Ashington, has Cauda Equina Syndrome. The rare disorder puts pressure on the bottom of the spinal cord and for a long time,resulted in him having to use a wheelchair.
Several operations and much physio later, Paul is now able to walk with a stick.
The Invictus Games Toronto 2017 will takeplace from 23 – 30 September. To find out more, go to www.invictusgames2017.com
Medals will be competed for in Athletics;Archery; Wheelchair Basketball; Cycling; Powerlifting; Indoor Rowing;Wheelchair Rugby; Swimming, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Tennis and, new for2017, Golf.
The 2017 UK Team Captain has been named asformer Army Major Bernie Broad, who takes over the mantel from 2016 Captain,David Wiseman from York.