AN Army veteran that was medically discharged from the army eight years ago after serving in the Falklands has said being selected for the Invictus Games has allowed her to rediscover herself and her “can-do attitude”.
Denise Kidger, 51, of Seaham Harbour, County Durham, is set to take part in various events at the Games in The Hague, the Netherlands, which start on Saturday (April 16) and run until April 22.
In August 1989, Miss Kidger joined the Women’s Royal Army Corps in until it disbanded in 1992.
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She then joined the Adjutant General’s Corps (SPS), serving in overseas posts including Germany and the Falkland Islands.
The 51-year-old was medically discharged in March 2014 due to injuries to her neck, back, hands, shoulder and left knee, mixed anxiety, and depressive disorder.
When her 22 and a half years in the service ended, she “did not just lose a job. I lost a lifestyle and family” and the pride she had serving her country, she said.
But she said adaptive sport “shows you a way that you can still do things and then you see things like the Paralympics on television and your can-do attitude comes back”.
“Without sports recovery, I wouldn’t be here today,” she said.
As part of her role in the upcoming Games, Miss Kidger will take part in several events in what will be her first Invictus Games, including cycling in the time trials criterium, indoor rowing, the 100m on the track, discus, the one-armed 50m freestyle, one-armed backstroke and 50m relay in the swimming category.
She recalled a conversation she had with Roger Coates from charity Help for Heroes, in which he asked, “Are you being defined by your injuries, or are you letting your injuries define you?”
“I am starting to feel pride again, being able to wear the union Jack and represent my country again,” she said.
“I haven’t just rediscovered myself and my can-do attitude, but I’ve also found friends.
“When you get that personal best and your shoulder, your neck, your back, your hands are all injured, you stop and think – I am doing it,” she added.
“I get so much excitement from actually doing the training and seeing my fitness, my health, my mental and physical health, improve.”
“It’s so fun being part of something, being included, having a laugh again and learning, and the coaches are absolutely phenomenal.”
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