Daniel Tasker

Former corporal Daniel Tasker was left feeling ‘broken’ since he was medically discharged from the RAF. However, with the support of family, friends and Help for Heroes the 40-year-old from Lincolnshire has started to ‘feel normal again’.

“The people that I have met during the trial and training camps have taught me to trust in people and friendships again, I have met some truly inspirational people who have taught me that I can overcome my limitations, they shouldn't be allowed to hold me back any longer. It is helping me to rebuild my confidence.”

As Daniel continues on his sports recovery, he credits his Invictus journey in giving him structure and purpose, one step at a time. 

“Since the training camp I have tried to develop my own training schedule to work on my speed as well as distance in running and cycling both indoors and outdoors, using fitness apps to monitor my progression. The involvement of sport allows me to clear my head in ways that therapy has never been able to. The process so far has and is helping me to see that I can still accomplish something that can make me proud of myself again and make my family proud of me.

“The possibility of being a part of Team UK would mean a huge amount to me and my family. The whole process so far is nothing that I could have imagined. It has already started to help me find a part of me that I feel has been missing since the loss of use of my left arm and hand as well as the emotional challenges and frustrations.

I feel that some of the sports I can now join with my family, without my feeling like I'm a hinderance. Since I have been selected for the games I have joined an athletics training team, The Lincolnshire Wellington Athletics Club . I train twice a week with them and am coached by an excellent athletics coach there. I am hoping to carry on competing in the 1500 and 400m events, after the Invictus Games."

Daniel Tasker has carried on training through out the COVID Epidemic, as best as he could. The athletics team was unable to train together, and gyms were closed, but he was able to continue road running and cycling (both indoors and outdoors). Daniel took up some of the virtual challenges that had been set by the Invictus Foundation, such as the Powered by Marvel (which he signed up for two of) and the Powered by Invictus, track and Cycling leagues.