Deloitte HR manager selected to represent Team UK in the Invictus Games

Stephen Rice, HR learning manager at Deloitte, has been selected to represent Team UK at the Invictus Games 2020. Stephen will be competing against international athletes in swimming, rowing and sitting volleyball.

The Team UK announcement was made on Tuesday 29th October 2019 in the presence of Invictus Games Patron, His Royal Highness Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at the Honourable Artillery Company in central London. Stephen will join 65 UK ex-military personnel in The Hague, Netherlands, 9th – 16th May 2020.

The Invictus Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. In 2010 whilst serving as an infantry officer in the British Army in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Stephen was leading a foot patrol when his team was caught in the blast of an improvised explosive device (IED). The explosion took the legs of one of his soldiers and also inflicted significant injuries on Stephen’s legs, changing his life immeasurably from that moment.

In 2014 Stephen was discharged from the Army on medical grounds as his knee injury had worsened beyond repair despite several operations. Further to the physical pain of chronic osteoarthritis in his legs, and continuous chronic back pain, Stephen struggled psychologically with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Stephen said: “I turned to Help for Heroes’ sports recovery programme as a first step on my road to recovery. The physical, psychological and social benefits of sport have definitely helped me to develop my confidence and remain focused.

“Having the Invictus Games as a goal has allowed me to do something to prove to my family and me that I won’t be beaten, and that I am capable of something bigger. For me, the Invictus Games, and sports recovery generally, is about having a goal that takes me beyond that point of injury and saying that I’m bigger than this. My limitations are only as great as the ones I impose on myself.”

Chris Recchia, lead Partner for Deloitte's Military Transition and Talent Programme and a veteran himself, added: “Deloitte is honoured to back Stephen on his Invictus Games journey. Stephen was introduced to Deloitte through our military talent and transition programme as we recognise the many transferable skills veterans can bring to our clients and our own business. Stephen has showed extreme courage in getting the necessary help to aid his recovery and we are very proud of him. The entire firm will be cheering him all the way through the Invictus Games!”

Hannah Lawton, of Help for Heroes and Chef de Mission for Team UK, said: "The 65 men and women selected to represent Team UK will not only gain a personal recovery benefit from taking part in the Games but they will hopefully inspire others suffering with life-changing injuries or illnesses that anything is possible."

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Notes to editors

For more information in The Invictus Games, please visit: https://invictusgamesfoundation.org/

About the Invictus Games
The Invictus Games is an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women – both serving and veterans.

It uses the power of sport and the Invictus Spirit to inspire recovery, support the rehabilitation of wounded injured and sick Servicemen and women and veterans and improve their life beyond injury.

Deloitte Military Transition Programme
Deloitte UK currently has around 200 ex-military personnel working within the firm. They work across a variety of different parts of the firm, including cyber security, tax, consulting and risk advisory. For case studies and information, please visit.

Over 3,000 veterans have attended Deloitte’s insight into professional services sessions since they began in 2012. Deloitte has produced two ‘Veterans Work’ thought leadership reports and a series of three short films aimed at showing UK employers compelling business case for hiring veterans. The films have been watched over 18,000 times.

About Deloitte
In this press release references to “Deloitte” are references to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”) a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity.

Please see deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.

Deloitte LLP is a subsidiary of Deloitte NSE LLP, which is a member firm of DTTL, and is among the UK's leading professional services firms.

The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.

For more information, please visit www.deloitte.co.uk

Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited