Soldiering on RYAN'S ROCKY ROAD TO INVICTUS

A sister salutes her brother’s bravery

- STEVE LANDELLS

It’s no exaggeration to say Ryan Buchanan’s journey to the Invictus Games is buying him extra time as he fights the battle of his life against terminal cancer.

Diagnosed in mid2018 with soft tissue sarcoma cancer, the New Zealand Army bombardier was given 12 months to live after countless inoperable tumours were discovered in his lungs.

Yet the relentlessly positive 25-year-old refuses to be dragged down by his diagnosis. And after successfully applying to compete for New Zealand at the 2020 Invictus Games – under the encouragement of big sister and Air Force sergeant Tomina Bentley – the move has played a huge part in improving both his physical and mental wellbeing.

So much so that his latest oncology appointment revealed the tumours are shrinking and his life expectancy has increased an additional five more years.

“After I was diagnosed, I lost all motivation to keep fit or do anything,” explains Palmerston North-based Ryan. “Yet once I was selected for the team, I gained my motivation back. I had some goals to work towards and I started to keep fit and active.

“The oncologist said that leading an active lifestyle, being a non-smoker and minimising alcohol definitely helps control the cancer.”

Born into a military family – Ryan and Tomina’s mum Tracey has served in the Air Force for more than 30 years and Tomina’s husband Shea is in the army – the siblings both joined the New Zealand Defence Force at the age of 18.

The pair fully embraced life in the military and also the sporting opportunities it presented, with Ryan playing basketball and Tomina softball.