Helping Where the Need is Great | Ukraine
In Ukraine, where the ground trembles with echoes of war, hope rises — not loudly, but with the quiet, defiant strength of those who have lost much and refuse to lose everything. The juxtaposition is stark: cities fractured by missiles, yet souls stitched together by purpose; limbs torn in battle, yet hearts made whole in the fire of resilience. As CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation, I have seen this paradox up close. I’ve seen where pain meets pride, and where wounded warriors do not just survive, but lead. In these men and women, hope is not a word; it is a muscle that is torn, tested, and triumphantly rebuilt.
I recently had the privilege of visiting Ukraine, a land of extraordinary courage, resilience, and unwavering spirit. Over the course of this trip, I saw first-hand what the Invictus movement means beyond competition: it is about recovery, healing, community. It is front page news. We know that there are well over 1.5 million veterans in Ukraine (someone who has or is still serving). The number of very badly wounded is around 150,000, many with injuries that lead to amputation. Yet only three hours away from the front line, there are people sitting enjoying an afternoon coffee and flower stalls abound providing vivid colour. It could be Paris! Ukraine is a land of extremes and of juxtapositions.
What I carry back with me
From this trip, three lessons stay with me:
1. Hope in broken places. Even amidst destruction, the human spirit is capable of remarkable renewal. The courage of veterans, the support of clinicians and peers, the compassion of communities, all combine to shape a powerful narrative of hope.
2. Sport is not a luxury, but a medicine. Movement, competition, camaraderie: these are tools of recovery. When people find purpose through sport, when they feel seen, supported, capable, that has ripple effects on psychological recovery, social integration, identity.
3. Action through partnerships. We must roll up our sleeves, through forging partnerships, resourcing clinics, supporting policies and above all, showing up where those we work with ask or tell us. Presence matters. A visit, a conversation, a commitment: these carry weight. When we say we stand with those who have been injured or traumatised, it must be more than words.
My commitment as CEO is to ensure that the Invictus Games Foundation continues to deepen our engagement in Ukraine. That means expanding our support to initiatives on the ground; growing our programmes so that no one is left feeling isolated; ensuring access to sport and recovery resources – psychological, physical, social are available wherever they are needed.
We mustn’t be drawn into the politics of conflict, and we cannot stop the fighting, but we can help mend what is broken. We can lift up those individuals and their family members who have carried wounds, seen horrors, lost so much. We can offer a path toward recovery, through sport and community, through perseverance, through seeing those who are too often unseen, drawing upon the strength of the unconquered human spirit.