CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A legendary rugby player has cited the fear and anxiety that has come into his life among the reasons for urging the Australian government to fund support services and education about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Wally Lewis, dubbed “The King” when he played rugby league for Queensland state and Australia in the 1980s, made an appeal on behalf of the Concussion and CTE Coalition for millions of dollars in funding during a National Press Club address Tuesday.
The 64-year-old Lewis said he’s living with probable CTE, which he described as a type of dementia associated with repeated concussive and sub-concussive blows to the head.
Lewis, who worked for decades as a television sports anchor after retiring as a player in the early 1990s, relayed his own experience to get his message across.
“The fear is real. I don’t want anyone to have to live with the fear and anxiety that I live with every day, worried about what I’ve forgotten ... the fear of what my future will look like,” Lewis said. “And living with the constant fear and anxiety that I’ll let people down – the people who all my life have been able to rely on me and looked to me for my strength and leadership.”
INTERVIEW: ‘There's exposure across Wall Street’ — Radio Free Asia
Tomas Totland scores first MLS goal in stoppage time, St. Louis plays Sporting KC to 3
China unveils data of technically recoverable oil and gas resources
Emerance Maschmeyer stops 35 and Brianne Jenner has a hat trick as Ottawa beats Minnesota 4
Meet the man exposing NYC's toll
Stalker bodybuilder, 32, is branded a monster by his girlfriend after he smashed up her house
I'm a nutritionist and here are my top tips to beat your sugar cravings for good
Matt Rempe and Rangers' fourth line comes up big in Game 1
Spring outing popular among Chinese people: survey