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Hilary Meredith-Beckham joins stepson David Beckham in call for further dementia support for footballers

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Hilary Meredith-Beckham, one of the country's leading personal injury solicitors, has joined her stepson David in calling for the football authorities to do more to help footballers affected by dementia and their families.

The former England captain last week threw his support behind the Football Families for Justice group which is working with retired players and relatives to lobby authorities on brain injuries caused by the sport.

 

In a video message played at an event in Manchester, David highlighted how three of his mentors around Manchester United - England World Cup winners Sir Bobby Charlton and Nobby Stiles and "Class of 92" youth coach Eric Harrison - died from neurodegenerative diseases.

 

He said: "I want to add my support to the work of John Stiles (Nobby's son) and Football Families for Justice in their campaign to meet the needs of those affected.

 

“We need the football family to come together and allocate resources to help address the tragedy of these devastating diseases.

 

“Let's ensure that victims and their families are treated with kindness, respect and best-in-class support.

 

"I hope you will join us in ensuring a better future for our former colleagues - the many ex-professional footballers who have brought so much joy to so many fans and for their loved ones."

 

Now Hilary Meredith-Beckham - the only UK solicitor to the win the prestigious Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year award on three separate occasions - has thrown her support behind the campaign.

 

Hilary was a keen skier and trampolinist and excelled at a range of other sports before a trampolining accident forced her to abandon her own sporting dreams.

 

During her thirty-year legal career, Hilary has developed specialist expertise in sporting injuries, successfully acting for a wide range of clients and often overcoming the odds to secure life-changing compensation.

 

Said Hilary: "I am only too pleased to join David in supporting this campaign.

 

"When the odds have been stacked against my clients in legal cases, I’ve always followed my gut instinct.

 

"My gut instinct here tells me that something just isn't right. Former footballers are more than three and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia, compared to the general population.

 

"There is a brain disease epidemic in football and it needs to be tackled."

 

The campaign is also being supported by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region counterpart Steve Rotherham. They are calling for "football authorities and the players' union to develop a care and support scheme for players who develop dementia or other neurodegenerative conditions, linked to their football career, and a requirement that it be agreed with players past and present and their families".

 

David Beckham’s video message supporting the campaign can be viewed here.

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