Sports event 'celebrates strong female veterans'

A veteran who has set up a series of sporting events dedicated to women who have served in the armed forces has said sport was a "lifeline" when she was medically discharged.

Gemma Kemble-Stephenson signed up at the age of 17 and served as a medic in the Royal Army Medical Corps for 18 years.

After suffering a spinal injury in 2018, she found taking part in adaptive sports through the Help the Heroes charity was a big part of her recovery and the difficult transition to civilian life.

She now works for the charity and is leading its first female-only series of sports taster sessions in Liverpool this weekend to "celebrate strong women" who have served.

The event, at Liverpool John Moores University, is part of the charity's drive to encourage more female veterans to get active.

It will offer a number of adaptive sports taster sessions including netball, yoga, power-lifting, boccia, and rowing.

The charity said Kemble-Stephenson, the current World's Strongest Disabled Woman and a para powerlifter and indoor rower, was an inspiration to other women looking to reignite their passion for sport.

Kemble-Stephenson, from Neath, Wales, said: "We know the power of sport to your mental and physical wellbeing.

"Many women join the armed forces because they enjoy being active... but when they leave that outlet can be taken away from them."

She said it would be a "safe space" for women "to dip their toe back in the water and try out a range of different sports".

"They will be able to connect with like-minded people, too," she added.

The 43-year-old said women are set to travel from all over the country to take part, adding that when the weekend was over they would "go home feeling positive and energised".

The charity has a programme of sports and social activities for former service personnel as part of its recovery programme.

The community sports series was launched three years ago but the charity hopes this latest event is the first of many held exclusively for women.

Kemble-Stephenson added: "The majority of people take part just for the fun, but we have had some people go on to complete our coaching academy course and represent their country at Invictus Games, Paralympics and Commonwealth competitions."

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