Laura Powell

Being part of a team is very important to former RAF Corporal, Laura Powell who has survived cancer twice.

Laura’s recovery pathway has been far from smooth sailing - her motivation levels plummeted and her self-confidence was at rock bottom. She describes that the Invictus UK Trials helped her find herself again. “The way I felt following the Trials was incredible and acted as a springboard for me. It’s given me a desire to get my spark back through sport. Since my illness, I’ve been trapped in a vicious cycle but I feel that sport is helping to break it and push me along on my road to recovery.

“I love being part of a team, especially one that is passionate, patriotic and full of inspiring, likeminded people who are also overcoming huge barriers. I crave to be part of this type of team and cheer each other on with a shared sense of purpose.

“I want to be the fastest cancer survivor when running, the strongest rower and the best supporter I can be, as part of Team Invictus Games 2020.”

Like many others, Laura struggled during lockdown. “Being classed as ‘Clinically Extremely Vulnerable’ was hard to accept mentally and gave a stronger realisation of how ill I’d been in the past. Staying home, living alone and trying to adjust to a new job in a completely different role took its toll but I’m now certainly appreciating the ability to leave home more, and see my loved ones.”