Chris Kamara issues new health update and credits ‘new form of rehab’

Inspiring Chris Kamara has opened up on his health battle with apraxia and says singing is really helping him cope with his condition.

Back in March 2022, Kamara stopped trying to conceal the symptoms of apraxia – a neurological disorder disrupting the transfer of thought from brain to speech. Months earlier, fans had expressed concern after noticing he was slurring his words on air.

Kammy has been undergoing treatment for the issue in recent years and has made huge improvements – though recently he admitted he once contemplated suicide and felt like a “burden” on his family. He spoke more about the situation on Monday’s BBC Breakfast.

On the programme, Chris discussed how he had a great time after joining a choir of Bradford City supporters for the new BBC Series Bantam of the Opera proved to be quite therapeutic. Host Jon Kay then asked him: “Chris, you mentioned, as well, about your condition, your apraxia of speech that you’ve talked about. How has singing helped you? “.

Chris responded brilliantly: “Well, the good news is, I could never sing before so it’s not made any difference! ” Then more seriously, he said: “But the truth of the matter is, you get more fluency in your voice when you sing so it’s a form of rehab when you’re trying to get your voice back. Singing helps me. “

The former footballer then explained the peculiar choice of singing with a Scottish accent on The Masked Singer UK earlier this year. Revealed as Ghost, the first unmasked celeb of the show’s fourth season, he found it easier to maintain fluency while performing with a Scots accent, even showcasing a brief switch to the twang live on air.

Fans on Bradford City – known as the Bantams – will receive singing lessons from the prestigious BBC Singers and Orchestra for the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture festivities. With support from ex-Bradford City boss Chris, alongside opera star Lesley Garrett and esteemed composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, they’re sure to be in good hands. The ensemble’s journey will unfold on Radio Leeds, while fans can tune into ‘Bantam of the Opera’ on BBC Sounds starting in April.

“This in an incredibly important year for Bradford, both the city and the football club,” Chris went on. “The power of music can be enormous, singing is a great way to bring people together, whilst being so positive for mental health. Singing has always been a part of my life, even when times have been tough. “

Football fans were thrilled when Chris and legendary presenter Jeff Stelling were reunited during Amazon Prime’s Boxing Day coverage of the Premier League as the broadcaster made his return to the screen amid his battle with speech apraxia.

Kamara and Stelling were one of football’s most iconic faces on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday for over two decades, as the former left fans in stitches with his hilarious commentary and gaffes while reporting on top flight matches.

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Source: Mirror