Hero heads off to Canada for the Invictus Games

Dave Watson, patient advocate at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) Charity and former Fisher House resident is jetting off to Toronto this week with his family in order to take part in the Invictus Games. Set up by Prince Harry and first hosted in 2014, the Invictus Games is an international, Paralympic style, multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick service men and women.

This year Dave Watson, who has worked at QEHB Charity since February 2016, is proudly representing the UK in the discus and shot put events and is raring to go, saying: “I’ve waited a long time for a chance to compete at an event of the stature of the Invictus Games.
“After disappointment in not making the team for the 2016 games, I was delighted to make the cut this year. I’ve been training hard and I’m looking forward to getting out there and giving it my best shot.”

Asked about his chances of winning a medal, Dave said: “We’ll have to wait and see! I’m pleased with how my training has gone and I’m just going to go over and try my best.”

Dave is heading off to Canada supported by his family, Becky and Josh. The Invictus Games is a family-oriented event and Becky is immensely proud of her husband’s achievements: “Dave is the most passionate and determined person I know, to have dealt with the disappointment of missing out in 2016, put it behind him and train even harder to make the team this year is amazing.

“Over the years, Dave has overcome so many hurdles and to see him embark on an exciting journey to the Invictus Games 2017 means that all his hard work and sacrifice has paid off.”

As for Josh, 13, he enjoys telling his mates about Dave’s accomplishments, saying: “He’s so inspiring, all my mates think it’s really cool that he’s going to be competing in the Invictus Games.
“It means the world to him, he even missed a trip to New York to celebrate my birthday in order to take part in the trials.”

The Invictus Games is a brilliant celebration of overcoming adversity, with the word Invictus meaning unconquerable or undefeated in Latin. This description is certainly a suitable way of describing Dave. Dave joined the Army in 2008 and served in the Scots Guards. During a tour of Afghanistan in 2010, Dave stepped on an improvised explosive device and lost both his legs and his right arm.

During his recovery, Dave spent time at Fisher House, the home away from home for military patients and their families at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Fisher House opened in 2013 and is an 18 bedroom house where the families of service people having treatment at QEHB can stay for free, allowing them to be close to their loved one at the hospital.

Dave’s time at Fisher House inspired him to stay on as a patient advocate at QEHB Charity, where he meets patients who have had similar experiences to him. Dave said: “I love working at Fisher House, being able to help support service people and their families through their treatment at QEHB is a privilege.

“The support that my family and I received at Fisher House was second to none and I feel honoured to be able to contribute to the brilliant work that happens at Fisher House.”
Dave will be in action on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 September as he takes part in the shot put and discus events.