An Interview with Chris: MS, Sport and Rebuilding Identity

Today we're sitting down with Chris Henderson, a man who in 2017 went from playing football in regional Victoria to sitting in a hospital bed being told he had multiple sclerosis, and then being told he'd never play sport again. For someone whose identity was built around sport, that news was devastating. But Chris found his way back to sport and discovered a completely different version of himself, one who plays wheelchair AFL professionally, coaches, captains the Geelong Basketball Club, and has represented Australia internationally.

He's also the founder of Freedom Sports, an organisation taking wheelchair sports into schools across Victoria, reaching more than 10,000 students last year alone. But before any of that, there was a time when Chris told almost nobody about his diagnosis, because saying the words out loud made it real, and every time he tried, he cried. This is a conversation about identity, grief, masculinity, sport, and vulnerability.

We hope you enjoy listening to Chris's story

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If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

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