WHEELCHAIR ULTRA-MARATHON FOR INVICTUS GAMES 2025 - LETS GET US THERE

In 2019, while deployed overseas in Canada with the New Zealand Defence Force, I became incredibly sick and was told I had only a 5-10% chance of waking up from a surgery I would need to save my life.

I spent a number of weeks in hospital while doctors did test after test to try figure out what was making me so sick.

In the end, it was the auto-immune disease Ulcerative Colitis and I had to have major surgery to remove my entire large intestine and majority of my small intestine. Following this I had two more surgeries on my return to New Zealand.

At 22 years old, fighting for my life and being told I would likely not survive, was devastating and unexplainable. However, surviving gave me a new determination to live life how I want.

I kept my condition closed off to most for the first few years as I felt alone and as if people would not understand. However, this year I want to step outside my comfort zone. I applied and qualified to compete at the Invictus Games 2025, which will be held in Vancouver, Canada.

Selection within a travelling team comes at great cost for the collective. We hope to raise funds to support another training camp prior to the games, as well as travel costs and equipment.

I will be completing an Ultra Marathon (50 kilometres) within a day using a wheelchair. I hope to bring awareness to wheelchair sports, the essence of the Invictus Games and what the establishment embodies. I also want to prove to myself that my body is still capable of greatness.