The Endeavour Fund has announced that it will once again be supporting the UK team for the Invictus Games, continuing its association from last year…
The support provided by the Endeavour Fund will help the UK delegation select, prepare and deliver the UK team competing at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017.
The UK delegation to the 2017 Invictus Games is being delivered by a partnership comprising the Ministry of Defence, Help for Heroes, and the Royal British Legion. The MOD is a partner in the Defence Recovery Capability, a programme which helps wounded, injured and sick (WIS) Service personnel either return to duty from injury or transition back into civilian life. Help for Heroes is leading the training, selection and development of the UK Team. The Royal British Legion is supporting the friends and family of competitors as part of its work to recognise the vital and valuable contribution that family and friends make to the recovery of WIS.
Trials for the UK team took place 6-9 April 2017 at the University of Bath Sports Training Village. Over the four days around 300 WIS military personnel and veterans competed across 11 sports for one of the 90 places available on the UK team. Prince Harry met WIS who hope to be selected for the UK team that will head out to Toronto. More hopefuls than ever before have applied to take part in the 2017 Invictus Games with 70% having never before taken part in the Invictus Games.
The Invictus Games is the only international sport event for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, both serving and veteran. The Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of all those who serve their country. Toronto is the third city to host the Invictus Games, after London in 2014 and Orlando 2016. The Invictus Games Toronto 2017 will take place from 23rd – 30th September and will see over 550 competitors from 17 nations compete in 12 adaptive sports.
Harry Holt, Chair of the Endeavour Fund Advisory Board, explains: “I’m thrilled that the Endeavour Fund is once again supporting the UK team at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 and championing this incredible example of how our wounded, injured and sick can take part in high level competitive and international sport. This is just one of the many ways in which we’re providing opportunities to wounded, injured and sick Service personnel and veterans to focus and catalyse their recovery through sport.”
The Endeavour Fund is a programme led by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. It aims to support wounded, injured and sick Service Personnel and Veterans using sport and adventurous challenges as part of their recovery and rehabilitation. It was a key stakeholder in the early stages of the inaugural Invictus Games, providing the initial seed capital required and working in partnership with the Ministry of Defence to get the project off the ground.
Since its launch in 2012, the Endeavour Fund has supported 39 different projects that have directly assisted nearly 1,500 WIS. Through their own fundraising, these endeavours have collectively raised £2.3m for other forces charities. The Endeavour Fund is targeting the harder-to-reach WIS and those who could most benefit from being involved in sport and adventure challenges to help their journey to recovery. AIG is the lead corporate partner of the Endeavour Fund.