Nathan Charles’ voice breaks momentarily before he steadies himself and gets back to a lifelong routine, sizing up the next wave of adversity and figuring out how to manoeuvre.
“I find it strange – I won’t use the word funny – but it’s ironic I was born with a life-threatening illness, and gave that a red-hot crack, and now this other thing comes along,” Charles said. “Something else is striking me down, rather than what I’ve been dealing with my whole life.”
Former Wallaby Nathan Charles, pictured at home after revealing his motor neurone disease diagnosis. Audrey Richardson After being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at three months of age, Charles made history by overcoming the condition and playing rugby for the Wallabies in 2014. He is believed to be the only cystic fibrosis sufferer in the world to ever play a contact sport professionally.
Last month, however, Charles and his family received a second devastating blow.
After a steady decline in his health, the 37-year-old was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, the same crippling condition NRL star Jai Arrow and former England rugby player Lewis Moody are fighting.
MND has no cure.
Nathan Charles playing for Wallabies during a 2014 Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney. Cameron Spencer “It has been extremely challenging and overwhelming, and a
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