VETERANS from a North Yorkshire recovery centre have taken part in an annual winter games competition between other Help for Heroes centres.

The team of wounded, injured and sick veterans and service personnel opened the Phoenix Winter Games earlier this month with sled dog racing – the first time the event had featured in the competition.

The Phoenix Winter Games play an important role in the recovery programme for wounded veterans and service personnel, who formed teams from the four Help for Heroes recovery centres; Phoenix House in Catterick, Tedworth House in Tidworth, Chavasse CV in Colchester, and Naval Service Recovery Centre in Plymouth.

The sled dog involved a competitor racing down a 30m chute. The other team members formed a Formula One-style pit lane team, with each one playing a vital role holding the excitable dog at the ready, and keeping the sled steady before the off.

Veteran Mark Appleby, from Catterick, praised Help for Heroes and the Phoenix Winter Games for opening his eyes to new opportunities.

Mr Appleby, 43, was medically discharged from the army in 2014 after a knee replacement. He joined the army in 1988, straight from school, and served all over the world, including four tours of Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

His first injured his knee in 1991 during a tour of Belfast where he tripped on a kerbstone wearing heavy equipment. Over the years, wear and tear doing infantry work and playing rugby in the army caused his knee to deteriorate.

In 2012, Mr Appleby had to have a knee replacement, which left him unable to carry the required weights for exercises and he could not run further than 100m without pain.

He said: “Help for Heroes has really opened my eyes to a lot more opportunities and the idea of these games is just fantastic.

“When you leave the military, the thing you miss most is that camaraderie and banter. These games bring all of that back and it is like you are being reunited with your family.

“When you get injured you worry a lot about what you won’t be able to do anymore but these events just make you realise how much you can still be involved and doing sports is great for keeping your mind healthy.

“The sled dog racing gave me such an adrenalin rush. It was amazing and you could see the smile on the other lads faces too.”

The games carry on throughout the week and other sports include curling, skiing, sledge hockey, biathlon and clay pigeon shooting.

Any wounded, injured or sick military personnel or veterans who are in need of support from the Help for Heroes’ Phoenix House recovery centre in Catterick Garrison, can call 01748-834148.

To find out how Help for Heroes can support you and your family, please also visit http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk.