GMR names Friends of Gallipoli Medical Research ambassador

Gallipoli Medical Research (GMR) announced that Army veteran and three-time Invictus Games gold medallist Pete Rudland as a Friends of Gallipoli Medical Research (FGMR) ambassador. The FGMR initiative facilitates cross-sector collaboration to cement sport as a nationally recognised pathway during transition from Defence, providing the evidence required that sport can restore purpose, identity and connection for Australian veterans and their families. GMR CEO Miriam Kent said the initiative would greatly benefit from Pete’s lived experience. “After Pete served in Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor and Cambodia, he was badly injured in a helicopter crash, leading to his medical retirement from the Army,” Kent said. “Despite his life-altering injuries, Pete forged a new path through sport that allowed him to get physically fit and be competitive again, but also to be surrounded by a supportive team once more. Pete’s story captures exactly what our FGMR initiative is all about. We know sport supports veteran physical and mental wellbeing, and our three-year research program will provide the evidence of this. Having someone with Pete’s lived experience championing that work is tremendously exciting,” she said. “For me, and many veterans, sport offers more than physical activity. It provides structure, purpose and a pathway to achieving personal goals. It also gives you community, being around people with a shared purpose. My own experience has shown me how powerful that can be,” Rudland said. “I believe sport has played a significant role in my recovery and ongoing wellbeing, and I’ve seen many former Defence members achieve positive outcomes through their involvement in sport. I’m excited to work alongside the team who are helping more veterans discover the opportunities, connection and sense of belonging that sport can provide. Supporting others to find their team and purpose is something I’m deeply passionate about.” GMR is seeking veterans who have found identity, purpose and connection through sport during their transition from Defence to join and broaden its ambassador program. Veterans interested in getting involved are encouraged to get in touch. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]