By TOM HAYES

 

FORMER Churchill footballer, Leigh McDonald has quite literally taken another step in raising awareness for Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

McDonald was diagnosed with probable CTE after suffering around 40 concussions throughout a 20-year playing career.

CTE can have numerous effects, from poor mental health to confusion and physical issues such as hangover-like headaches.

Since his diagnosis, McDonald has pushed through the tough times, and is now one of the leading voices for CTE and concussion awareness.

A board member of the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF), McDonald decided to up the ante, by completing a marathon, not only to raise awareness for the disease, but to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives to it.

One of the people McDonald wanted to pay tribute to was fellow local footballer, Nick Lowden, who last played in the South Australian National Football League and lost lost his life last year, which CTE was later found to be a cause.

McDonald also wanted to pay tribute to former AFL players Shane Tuck and Danny Frawley, who were both found to be suffering from CTE.

CTE can only be diagnosed after death, requiring evidence of degeneration in brain tissue and deposits of proteins in the brain. McDonald’s case has been listed as probably due to the symptoms he suffered.

Running in Queensland, McDonald took on the Cairns Marathon on Sunday, July 14.

“It was great, it was an amazing experience. It was pretty emotional because the Lowden’s came up with me. Obviously as they had lost their son through CTE, it was a very emotional day, they supported me the whole day,” McDonald said.

“It was pretty warm, but we kicked off at 5.45 (am), so the humidity played a little bit of a part in it.

“I sat on a 3.45 pacer (someone running that exact pace)… I dropped my gels at about five (kilometres) in, so I had no electrolytes throughout the run.

“The run is along the Cairns foreshore, so you’re… running through the parklands looking at the ocean.”

McDonald completed the marathon in three hours, 48 minutes, and 26 seconds.

After what was his first-ever marathon, McDonald wants to continue to do more.

“I’ve got the bug now,” he said.

“I’ve never ran further than 30 (kilometres) in my training I go to, the buzz on the day I think gets you through.”

On the day, McDonald wore a singlet with Lowden, Tuck, and Frawley on it, and those supporting McDonald throughout his run had posters of the trio to spur him along.

“They’ve all played a part in my life. I didn’t know Shane (Tuck) and Danny (Frawley) well, but doing the preseason at Richmond under Danny, and then playing with Shane that year – they’re all people that have been involved in my life.”

Despite a footballing career that has seen him receive numerous individual awards, McDonald has always been a team player.

“Any goal or achievement I’ve ever had has been team based. I’ve won individual awards, but none of them have really meant a lot to me, but this one is different,” McDonald said.

“Although it’s an individual achievement, I feel a real sense of pride and accomplishment because it’s for a bigger cause.

“I’m really proud of it.”

Being a part of CLF, McDonald is able to see the work that goes into the foundation and help raise money so they are able to help more people who might be suffering from the symptoms of CTE.

“They’re a support network,” he said.

“They work with the Biobank who are more research, but CLF are there to support people that think that they may have the symptoms, and they support, just as more so, the partners and families.”

The CLF offer fortnightly support meetings with those suffering and partners or families, and have doctors involved.

So far, McDonald has raised just shy of the $5000 goal, which will go towards supporting the CLF and its work.

McDonald mentioned that Microsoft may be jumping on board to donate, and if so, they will double what has already been donated.

“We’re hopeful that it could be up towards $10,000,” McDonald added.

Looking at the bigger picture, McDonald wanted to inspire people to get help if they have, or think they have symptoms of CTE.

“I think the main thing is showing people that… for a long time it got the better of me, I still have challenges, but hope that you can live a healthy life with these symptoms,” he said.

“It takes a lot of hard work and consistency, but like any form of a medical illness it is challenging, but you can live a healthy and good life – it just needs to be consistent and (you need to) make good decisions.”

Bitten by the marathon bug, McDonald has set himself up for more by entering himself in the Melbourne Marathon on October 13.

He will also continue his advocacy role, doing a number of speaking events with CLF and potentially Norwood Football Club (where Lowden last played). McDonald also might be setting himself up for a triathlon.

More locally, McDonald will be a part of a speaking panel with Girls With Hammers, when they do their sixth annual conference. This year’s conference will be held at Churchill’s Federation University.

McDonald will be the second-ever male to join the panel, in what will be an all-day event to provide inspiring stories, building a sense of connection with the community for those that attend, expanding the support network for women in the region.