A MAN and a woman from Dorset have been selected to represent the United Kingdom in this year’s Invictus Games.

Prince Harry, patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, has unveiled the 90-strong team of wounded, injured and sick (WIS) serving military personnel and veterans for the games, which are being held in Toronto in September.

Among the team members is Mark Bowra, a lieutenant colonel with the Royal Marines, who had his life changed dramatically when he suffered a stroke.

He took part in last year’s Invictus Games where he won a swimming medal in the men’s 50 L C metre freestyle.

Another Dorset resident joining the UK team for this year’s games is Lindsay Chapman who will be competing in athletics and rowing

She was a private in the army, and nearly ten years ago she was involved in a road traffic collision which left her paralysed from the chest down. The physical and mental challenges this brought saw her struggle to be in a military environment as it was a painful reminder of what she had lost.

She struggled with her self-worth and experienced low confidence and depression, and was often unable to leave the house for days at a time.

“Invictus will help me feel a sense of worth and purpose again by having a goal to aim for, as well as building my confidence and independence back up,” she said.

“For those who have supported me along the way and stood by my side, I want to win a medal for them to show my appreciation and make them proud.”

The UK team will continue to train in various locations across the country as part of Help for Heroes’ extensive Sports Recovery programme.

Over 60 per cent of this year’s team are new to the Invictus Games and were spurred on to apply off the back of the inaugural Invictus Games in 2014, the success of the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando and the day-to-day sports recovery activity that takes place.

The team will compete in 11 sports: athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, powerlifting, indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, swimming, sitting volleyball, wheelchair tennis, and golf.

Jayne Kavanagh, of Help for Heroes and Chef de Mission for the UK team, said: “In the UK team, we have 90 individuals who have displayed high levels of passion, teamwork and commitment to using sport as a tool of recovery both during and beyond the Invictus Games. “We are very proud to be working alongside them and wish them the best of luck as they embark on their Invictus Games journeys.”