Invictus Games an Amazing Experience

Invictus Games

Invictus Games an Amazing Experience

Transcript

And these games, you know, you realize that to have PTSD you don’t have to deploy anywhere. It could be something could have happened at work. We are starting to… the CDS is really pushing this operation honour and stuff and, you know, there’s stuff that goes on in the military that are just starting to come to light now and people have been battling all this for like maybe twenty years, some people so it’s really nice at these games. You get to meet everybody and you know their story and you’re like, “Oh my God, I’m not alone.” And that’s one of the biggest things. Everybody talks about it but until you actually sit down and talk to people that experience the exact same things, you know, emotions are crazy. You can go from zero to sixty in, either way you can be happy and laughing and then sixty seconds later you could be crying and the same way. So these games are, it’s awesome to actually meet people and I got a new family. The first camp I went to training and then I went to my room. The second camp I did more, you know, socializing. You got to do it. It’s one of the best things you can do to heal are these games and thanks to Prince Harry for starting it because it is amazing, you know, Canada is not the only one, you’re not the only one. Every country has got them, you know, people with injuries, physical or mental, and it’s just amazing. Even my wife talked me into doing it. I was ready to quit a number of times, even before the first camp and she was just like, “No, stick it out.” And we always had a rule with the kids, you gotta try it. You can’t quit and I am so glad that I didn’t quit. I would have probably regretted it for the rest of my life. These games are amazing.

Description

Mr. Reist speaks in high regard for what Prince Harry has done in implementing the Invictus Games and the power it brings to each participant.

Mike Reist

Mr. Mike Reist was born December 18, 1969 in Waterloo, Ontario. Having had a great uncle as a role model, Mike made the choice to join the Canadian Forces, only advising his family of these intentions two weeks prior to attending infantry training. Mike joined with 2 RCR, 2nd Battalion Infantry Division and held rank of warrant officer. Mike has a long record of service overseas - Cyprus 1991, Bosnia 1992,’96, ’99, Africa 2000, Afghanistan 2003, ’07 and Haiti in 2005. Mike had 27½ years of military service. Mike is very proud of his military career and is quoted as saying, “It’s the best thing that ever happened!” Upon medical release, Mike was stricken with PTSD and has become an advocate in speaking out about this condition. He is presently active with the Soldier On program and has competed in the Invictus Games in Toronto 2017 as part of Team Canada’s wheelchair rugby. Mike presently resides in Gagetown, New Brunswick with his wife and family.

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