A MOTHER who has served in the army for two decades will be taking part in next year’s Invictus Games.

Gillian Charlton will take on three different sports at the adaptive event in May, powerlifting, rowing and swimming.

The 40-year-old warrant officer for the Army Welfare Service was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2018 after suffering from a spate of extreme fatigue and illness.

The mother-of-two, originally from Blackburn but now living in Aldershot, Hampshire, underwent two operations to remove a cancerous lump from her breast and a course of radiotherapy.

The former Our Lady and St John’s School pupil was given a NED (no evidence of disease) last year and is currently on medication to help prevent it from coming back.

The former Blackburn College pupil went from being active, taking part in CrossFit exercises, to having almost a year of inactivity while recovering.

Mrs Charlton, who has been stationed in Iraq, Germany and Cyprus with the army, said she would be competing in bench pressing, 50 metre freestyle swimming and indoor rowing.

She said: “I’m really excited and nervous to be taking part in the games.

“It’s been something I wanted to compete in since I’ve been through everything last year.

“I have been bad at swimming and I’ve hated rowing so I wanted to do something that would challenge me.

“I took part in a mini Invictus Games in Sheffield earlier this year as part of the application process and that was amazing.

“You’re treated like a professional athlete and seeing the crowd was wonderful.”

Mrs Charlton signed up to the territorial army in 1998 before enlisting as a full-time soldier a year later.

She joined the Royal Corps of Signals and other divisions before joining the welfare regiment 10 years ago.

The officer is one of 16 women, and 65 athletes in total, who were picked to take part in the games, created by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, designed for wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel.

Mrs Charlton said: “I am doing this to show other people that have been diagnosed with cancer it does not always end badly.

“It doesn’t mean your life is over, but can come through it and enjoy everything you had before.

“I’m really excited to get going.

“I’ve spent most of my weekends at training camps and I have been following my workout programmes really well.”

The Invictus Games will run from May 9, to May 16.