Invictus Games - Bring my family
Donation protected
Dear Whom this may concern:
My name is Melissa Stoddard, my fiancé is a currently serving Cpl in the Canadian Armed Forces. He was deployed to Afghanistan in August 2008 and returned at the end of March 2009. Upon his return, in the years following, he was diagnosed with PTSD. He has struggled to accept his diagnosis. We have had many things to overcome in the last several years however for him it has been over 8 years. He lives with survivors’ guilt and experiences nightmares almost every night.
Sports have played a large part in his recovery. He often would cycle to work daily. He has recently been posted to JPSU which is where he is awaiting his medical release. Shortly after he was posted he applied to become a member of Team Canada for the upcoming Invictus Games in Sydney. We had begun to lose hope and began to think that he wasn't selected that was until February 7th. He did it he was selected, I was overjoyed for Mark and he began training in his two activities cycling and track activities right away. The past few months have been a wonderful experience for our family including Mark participating in two training camps. I have felt that he has overcome so much by simply participating in the road to Invictus.
However, I have now been confronted with a difficult decision regarding my families’ participation. As you may know, Invictus Athletes are only eligible to bring two family or friends to the Invictus Games.
We had automatically chosen Mark’s Mother Donna, she has always been his rock - before me, she would come to his house when he was deployed to ensure his son Ashton was taken care of and she would take care of the home. Even after he hit rock bottom his mom was always there for him.
I would love nothing more than to be there with Mark, I am so proud of all he has overcome. Unfortunately, we’d be left leaving our three boys’ home alone, they're 6,7 and 9.
In the unfortunate event that I must remain in Canada, we would then be asked to select only one child to attend with Mark’s mother. Our family and children have been a large source of Mark’s inspiration and he feels he can't leave anyone behind, all of us have been through hell. We want nothing more than our family to be with Mark all our family, I feel like this would be a once in a lifetime experience for the children as it is for Mark.
The costs for the three children to accompany us is approximately $13,533. We do not have the financial means to pay for this and any support toward this would be most appreciated.
It would mean the world to Mark to look up and see his family cheering him on in the stands! Any donation is greatly appreciated.
My name is Melissa Stoddard, my fiancé is a currently serving Cpl in the Canadian Armed Forces. He was deployed to Afghanistan in August 2008 and returned at the end of March 2009. Upon his return, in the years following, he was diagnosed with PTSD. He has struggled to accept his diagnosis. We have had many things to overcome in the last several years however for him it has been over 8 years. He lives with survivors’ guilt and experiences nightmares almost every night.
Sports have played a large part in his recovery. He often would cycle to work daily. He has recently been posted to JPSU which is where he is awaiting his medical release. Shortly after he was posted he applied to become a member of Team Canada for the upcoming Invictus Games in Sydney. We had begun to lose hope and began to think that he wasn't selected that was until February 7th. He did it he was selected, I was overjoyed for Mark and he began training in his two activities cycling and track activities right away. The past few months have been a wonderful experience for our family including Mark participating in two training camps. I have felt that he has overcome so much by simply participating in the road to Invictus.
However, I have now been confronted with a difficult decision regarding my families’ participation. As you may know, Invictus Athletes are only eligible to bring two family or friends to the Invictus Games.
We had automatically chosen Mark’s Mother Donna, she has always been his rock - before me, she would come to his house when he was deployed to ensure his son Ashton was taken care of and she would take care of the home. Even after he hit rock bottom his mom was always there for him.
I would love nothing more than to be there with Mark, I am so proud of all he has overcome. Unfortunately, we’d be left leaving our three boys’ home alone, they're 6,7 and 9.
In the unfortunate event that I must remain in Canada, we would then be asked to select only one child to attend with Mark’s mother. Our family and children have been a large source of Mark’s inspiration and he feels he can't leave anyone behind, all of us have been through hell. We want nothing more than our family to be with Mark all our family, I feel like this would be a once in a lifetime experience for the children as it is for Mark.
The costs for the three children to accompany us is approximately $13,533. We do not have the financial means to pay for this and any support toward this would be most appreciated.
It would mean the world to Mark to look up and see his family cheering him on in the stands! Any donation is greatly appreciated.
Organizer
Mel Marie
Organizer
Petawawa, ON
