‍

Many congratulations to our Lourdes Pilgrimage Lead Accueil Notre Dame Nurse, Kayleigh Pierce (nicknamed "K-Bomb"), who won Gold in the "Women's Novice Alpine Sit Ski" at the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada last week. Kayleigh, who is an RAF Nursing Officer and Flight Lieutenant, competed in wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing and was even captain for alpine skiing

Before departing for Canada, Kayleigh said:

‍

“Having sustained a complicated knee and nerve injury from a simple ski accident 2 years ago, I could never have predicted I'd be in this position now. Hours and hours in the gym, surgery, inpatient rehab, determination, tears and laughter have all paid off! I've put every possible effort into my rehab to walk again without aids, without medication and with purpose!

“Through support from friends, family, DMRC, adaptive sport and Invictus I've exceeded my expectations of recovery, and I'm hoping to be back in work very soon. To all of the people who have been there along my journey: I cannot express how much your support has meant to me. Thank you so much."

‍

The Invictus Games Foundation supports the recovery and rehabilitation of international wounded injured and sick service personnel and veterans through sport. "Invictus" means "Unconquered" and the term embodies the fighting spirit of the participating men and women, as well as their motivation to move on with their lives, to gain a new place in life, and to not let themselves be defined by the trauma they have suffered.

Through providing sport recovery opportunities and adventurous challenge, the Foundation’s work supports long term improvements in physical and mental health, inspires change and motivates wider society, and helps wounded injured and sick service personnel and veterans reconnect with their families and communities.

The 2025 Winter Games included Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Skeleton and Wheelchair Curling, in addition to the core Invictus games of indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball, with more than 500 competitors from 20 nations taking part.

‍

Sources: Kayleigh Pierce; Invictus Games Foundation