Invictus Games
I’ve been asked to try and put into words what brought me to
volunteer for Invictus and what I felt about the games. I have struggled so hard to put my feelings
down onto paper. It is not easy to sum
up. This is not my first games. I volunteered for PanAm and my role was
getting the flags ready for the medal ceremonies at the Innisfil Shooting
venue. I was so overwhelmed with both
the scope and the feel good camaraderie of the PanAm games. I felt at the time it was the most life
changing thing I had done.
The next year, following on the high of PanAm, I had the
opportunity to volunteer for the Guelph Special Olympic Spring Games. While only taking place over a 3 day weekend
it was again an overwhelming feel good experience. I loved every minute of it. Every hug, every victory by each of the
athletes, every medal (as once again I was involved with the medal ceremonies).
It too was a life changing experience.
Then in May of 2016 I received a message from a friend I made
at PanAm. She mentioned that Invictus
was looking for volunteers for a 1 day gig.
I thought oh, ok… I don’t know what Invictus is (at that point) but she’s
asking so I said yes. I was asked to
attend a meeting along with about 15 other people – some of them also from
PanAm. What I didn’t expect is that I
would be caught up in not just the excitement of the day (and the possibility of
seeing Prince Henry even from a block away) but that I would have an
opportunity to not only learn what these games were about, but to learn
something about myself.
That very first day I met a military member and his wife who
I was asked to drive to all the media events of the day. I was told he utilized a wheelchair and that
he wore 2 leg prosthetics. However, when
he climbed into the Jaguar I was driving (nervously), I noted that he was in
fact not wearing his prosthetics. He took a good look around the roomy back
area and said to me, completely deadpan – wow look at all the legroom back
here. Well I cracked up and came back
with oh great – I get a sitdown comedian!
He laughed and we made a connection.
He then told me about how he used humour to help deal with his
PTSI. I was so intrigued by not just him
but by the fact that someone who has been through something none of the rest of
us ordinary Canadians can possibly imagine could still, make a joke with a
total stranger. He touched my heart.
At the end of the Launch day I was asked if I would be
interested in volunteering for the games.
I said sure – I would go online and make an application. I was then informed that if I wanted they
would find me a position as they liked my ability to just jump in and do
whatever I was asked to do. I at first
felt no – I will do what everyone else does and apply through the normal
channels cause that would be fair and also I wanted to once again maybe be involved
with the Medals as that is what I knew.
However, after thinking about it I thought perhaps I really wanted to do
this and maybe I wouldn’t get the chance unless I took up the offer. That perhaps I wanted a more personal
connection so I said yes.
The role I was given as a Friends and Family Supervisor was
more – much more – than I could possibly have hoped for. Meeting, conversing, listening and becoming
friends with not only family and friends of the warriors, but also befriending as
many of the warriors as I did was – yes you guessed it – the most life changing
thing I have done. The emotions I felt
for each and every single person at the Village is not describable. Every one of
the 11 days I spent at the Village (including 2 days I was not booked on but
showed up regardless) was filled with smiles, hugs, gratitude and love. This was volunteering at its finest. It wasn’t work. I didn’t want to stay away. I didn’t want it to end. In my heart it is still ongoing.
So what has this done to me.
How has this changed me. Again, I
struggle to explain. I learned to look
at these athletes, these family members and see the person. The heart and soul. I realized what I saw on the outside and
imagined what was ongoing on the inside, was not what defined them. Their defining moment was out there on the
field, in the pool, on the court, on the range, in the gym. The success that
they achieved was not in winning – it was in competing. Conquering their demons
and fears. And their families and friends were right there along with
them. Cheering them on, laughing with
them, crying with them, succeeding with them.
Yes this was life changing for me. I want to go to Sydney. I want to remain part of the Invictus family.
I feel that this… this Invictus…these warriors… these families and friends are
mine and my calling. I have tried so
hard with some success to explain to acquaintances and my own family what these
games meant to me. My experience. I can’t
because I find I cannot incapsulate a feeling as large as this. This movement
makes me proud to have been a part of it.
My family is proud of me for doing it and that is great to hear but it
is more important to me that I may have made some small difference in the
experience of each and every one of the 1900 plus participants at these
Invictus games and that with luck I will continue to go on and make a
difference.
Thank you Invictus 2017 for being the most life changing
event in my life.
And this time I mean it.
I AM Invictus.
Debbie Gabura
Friends & Family Supervisor
Village
Invictus 2017
