INVICTUS GAMES
Help A Star & The Invictus Games
Help A Star and the Invictus Games are linked by chance and fate. The Invictus Games were the site of the meeting of the Getrouw siblings and Edwin Vermetten, the organization’s resident contact to the world of celebrity in the Netherlands as well as the spiritual guide and ambassador to the world for our organization.
For those not familiar with Invictus Games, they are an athletic competition supported by Britain’s Prince Harry for soldiers incapacitated by injuries suffered during their term of service. Mr. Vermetten has competed in the Invictus Games three times (2014, 2016 and 2018). At the 2018 Sydney games he was competing in the wheelchair tennis mixed doubles tournament with his competition partner, Paul Guest of the United Kingdom. During the pool competitions, Mr. Guest had a recurrence of his PTSD as a helicopter was passing over the tennis venue. Edwin calmed Guest by singing “Let it Go” from the Disney movie, “Frozen”; he was recognized by the Prince for his decisive action, and he was awarded the Jaguar Land Rover “Above and Beyond Award.”
Edwin Vermetten was looking forward to serving as an ambassador for the 2020 games that were scheduled for The Hague, Netherlands. Due to the pandemic, they will be rescheduled for 2022.
It was during the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida, that he met siblings Xiomara and Tariq Getrouw, official games volunteers. This chance encounter led to Edwin’s decision to support our seed organization, Swim for Life International. The Getrouws were participating volunteers in the subsequent games in Toronto in 2017. More recently, other team members have agreed to volunteer and lend their skills to a worthy cause in 2022.
Mr. Vermetten has also been officially recognized by his home country for his athletic efforts, courage, and perseverance. He has received an award from the Dutch Olympic Committee/ Dutch Sports Federation (NOC*NSF) recognizing him as an “athlete with talent.” Just recently, he was awarded the prestigious “Michiel de Ruyter Prize.”
Edwin Vermetten at the Invictus Games
During the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia Edwin Vermetten received the Jaguar Land Rover “Above and Beyond Award” as an appreciation for all his good deeds.
The Help a Star Foundation wants to contribute to a better world and wants to get involved. This is why several of Help a Star board members volunteer and help out with good initiatives such as the Invictus Games.