Former rugby player Alix Popham has been speaking about his dementia diagnosis and a new charity he has launched with his wife Mel to help others.
Last month, the former Wales rugby player revealed he has been diagnosed with early onset dementia as he joined what could be a landmark legal case against the Welsh Rugby Union, RFU and World Rugby.
The former Wales back-row spoke about his diagnosis which has seen him become one of eight former rugby union players starting legal action against the game's authorities for alleged negligence.
Speaking to Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway on Good Morning Britain, Alix admitted the diagnosis, on April 16 last year, had been made even more difficult because of lockdown.
"It was a difficult time for us, and the family in April," he said. "We were in the middle of lockdown, so it was difficult not to be able to see family, but we have come to terms with it, and it is about a positive change now to make a difference to us and other people."
His wife Mel said that the first signs of the illness were short term memory loss, lack of concentration and focus.
"The characteristic changes in Alix's behaviour was the most worrying thing for me," she said.
The couple are backing a new charity, called Head for Change, to support other players in both rugby and football suffering from brain injuries and their families.
During his 14-year career, experts estimate Alix suffered up to 100,000 sub-concussions, 85% of which were in training.
He wants training practices to change and for impact training to be reduced as part of the campaign, while his wife Mel is hoping for more support for families affected.
Mel told BBC Radio Wales: "April 16 last year changed our lives beyond recognition, and turned our world upside down when we got Alix's diagnosis. Having a two-year-old and my two step-daughters who are 12 and 16, I was at a loss and there was nowhere to turn to get advice.
"You don't expect a 40-year-old to be diagnosed with dementia.
"We are uniting rugby with football. We think it is quite unique and one of our first major programmes is about care and support. We are developing programmes for affected players."
Alix added: "I still love rugby. I have played rugby since the age of four. We are not looking to change what happens on a Saturday. We all love free flowing rugby but it is what the players are doing in training. Around 85% of my contact during my career was done in training."
Mel admitted she had been reluctant to go public with the story, but she had been "overwhelmed" by the positive support they had received.
"I felt very exposed about speaking out," she said. "But the time for talking is over. Now is the time for action and we are coming together to be part of the solution."
