On the 6th April 2025 I will be running the Brighton Marathon in aid of Head For Change.

Who are “Head For Change”?

Head for Change is a start up charitable foundation, pioneering positive change for brain health in sport and supporting ex-players who are affected by neurodegenerative disease as a result of their professional sporting career in football or rugby.

Why “Head For Change”?

Sport is a big part of many people’s lives. Some play sports for the fitness, others the competition or social interaction, enjoyment, or stress relief.

However when people are passionate about the sport they play, they often overlook or underestimate the risks associated with it.

Rugby has always been a big part of my life and personally I had never considered how it could impact my life as I get older.

Recent studies have shown that those who are involved in sport with frequent high contact to the head, such as rugby, football, boxing and many more, are more likely to develop CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy).

CTE is a progressive degenerative disease affecting people who have suffered repeated concussions and traumatic brain injuries.

When studying CTE in rugby players, it was found that around two thirds (68%) of the brains examined, both amateur and elite level players, were impacted. Importantly, risk of CTE pathology was associated with length of a player's rugby career, with each additional year of play adding 14% to risk of CTE.

Head For Change is a charity working closely with those affected with this condition and are working with the brightest minds in neurodegenerative disease to understand more about the issues and use the data to advance our calls for a player-centred approach to safety.