I am Invictus

I was lucky enough to be invited to the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games on Sunday where I managed to literally brush shoulders with royalty in the form of Prince Harry.

 And what a great ambassador for the royal family he is. His passion for the Games and for the support it gave the injured servicemen who competed in it was infectious.

He wandered around the grandstand area all day chatting to competitors and then joined Team GB in the mosh pit to watch the Foo Fighters later in the evening.

The Games were an inspiring and thought-provoking event and it was humbling to see so many men and women who had overcome massive adversity 'kicking the arse out of life', as the Captain of Team GB David Henson said in an emotional speech at the medal giving ceremony.

Whatever you think about war and conflict, there is no denying that the people who competed in the Invictus Games are brilliant role models. None of them asked for the life changing injuries they sustained in service and the resilience they have shown by recovering, adapting and thriving is nothing short of heroic.

One of the hidden injuries of war is psychological damage and while it is less apparent than a lost limb it is just as life changing.

During the concert I met one of the competitors, David Wiseman. He was shot in Afghanistan and won four medals during the games. His book, Helmand To The Himalayas, is a very honest, thoughtful and gritty portrayal of conflict, the long-term effects faced by servicemen when they return home and ultimately how sport and adventure can help transform lives. It's well worth a read.  Click here to buy from Amazon.