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.”
Police in Greece raid homes and detain dozens in crackdown on deadly soccer violence
Movies Featuring Women's Strength Popular in China's Cinema
Across China: A Glimpse into Thriving Ice and Snow Industry in Xinjiang
New Godzilla x Kong film tops Chinese box office
Street Dance in China — from Niche to Pop Culture Phenomenon
China's Sanya Witnesses Peak Season for Tourism
Brian McKnight's estranged son Niko McKnight and ex
Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin Session 14 at Gangwon 2024: New Zealand vs. China
Meghan Markle's Beagle Mamma Mia appears in Abigail Spencer's gushing post about new jam
People Prepare for Upcoming Chinese New Year Across China