GAMES CHANGER

How Prince Harry gave me strength

- Steve Landells

Living with terminal cancer was taking such a toll on Flight Sergeant Andrea McNabb that she admits she was simply “waiting to die”.

The logistics specialist with the Royal New Zealand Air Force confesses she was “in a slump” before discovering she would represent the New Zealand Defence Force at this year’s Invictus Games in the Netherlands.

“Invictus has given me a real purpose and made me realise I have so much to live for,” Andrea says.

The international sporting event was created by Prince Harry and gives wounded, injured or sick current or former military personnel the opportunity to compete in nine different sports.

Andrea (41), who is married to former Cook Islands athlete Robert McNabb, was rocked to the core after being diagnosed with adrenal cancer in 2016.

The rare nature of the disease meant the mum-of-six was forced to wait 20 months for doctors to decide on the best course of treatment, a time she describes as “mental torture”.

“I had to re-frame to stay sane, learn how to manage my emotions and try not to get too worked up on the unknown.”