WINNIPEG — Among the many parties of Grey Cup week, several CFL players are making theirs about awareness of one of the greatest dangers of playing the game of football: concussions.
Josh Bourke, tackle for the Montreal Alouettes; Rory Kohlert, wide receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Simoni Lawrence, linebacker for the Hamilton Tiger Cats are hosting the Bash 4 Brains All Star Party at District Shop on Saturday night.
All proceeds of the event will go towards Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada, for research and safety programs across Canada.
“I think the more we can educate and learn about it, the better we can diagnose them,” said Bourke.
Discussions about brain trauma . Researchers from Boston University say blows to the head can cause Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). It is a degenerative brain disease that can cause long-term mental health problems such as depression and progressive dementia.
Dr. Glen Bergeron, Associate Dean of Gupta Faculty of Kinesiology and Applied Health at the University of Winnipeg said athletic trainers are thinking of long-term health impacts.
“If you have a concussion, we need to treat you not as a current athlete but as someone who’s going to be part of society after the game, and has to have that quality of life,” said Bergeron.
Bergeron has worked in the past with the Blue Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos. He said the culture in the locker room is beginning to change as well.
“It was a badge of honour. It no longer is a badge of honour. It now has this potential for really chronic and long-term problems.”
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