A mental health worker at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) has been selected to represent Team UK at the upcoming Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany in September.
Veteran, David Argyle, served in the RAF for 20 years, reaching the rank of Sergeant as a Weapons Engineering Technician (Armourer). He was diagnosed with Osteochondritis Dissecans and Osteoarthritis in the later stage of his career, which eventually led to his medical discharge. He was later diagnosed with Depressive Disorder and Fibromyalgia.
He said: “My family have been my rock; without their support I wouldn’t be at this point. I have also been very lucky in the fact that since my employment in 2018, LPFT have been very supportive with regards to my ongoing health needs. Because of my personal journey, I find it easier to identify with people who are struggling with their mental health.”
Turning his life experiences into a positive and keen to help others, Dave is now an Assistant Practitioner in Lincolnshire’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Learning Disabilities Team (CAMHS LD), supporting young people with learning disabilities experiencing poor mental health.
Dave is delighted to be joining the 59 strong UK contingent of armed forces veterans and serving personnel at the games, competing in wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball. He hopes to challenge himself at Invictus as an athlete, improving his sporting abilities and increasing his self-confidence.
Dave has played wheelchair basketball competitively for Jaguars WBC in the National League since June 2019. However, he is new to wheelchair rugby having only played it at the pre-selection camps.
He added: “I’m immensely proud to have been selected for Team UK. If you’d asked me even a few months ago, I wouldn’t have believed in a million years that I would have this opportunity. Sport is a great release; it’s an escape where I can do physical exercise and seriously compete in a team again.”
Katie Tempest, Team Coordinator for the CAMHS LD team at LPFT, said: “It’s amazing to think that ‘our Dave from Lincoln’ will be representing the country at a global sporting event seen by millions; what an amazing achievement. We’re so proud of Dave and wish him every success in Dusseldorf.”
The Invictus Games harnesses the power of sport to inspire recovery and support rehabilitation for wounded, injured or sick servicemen and women. Working in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, the Royal British Legion (RBL) will deliver Team UK to The Invictus Games.
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