Depression research
January 16, 2010
Teresa Enke, the widow of German goalie Robert Enke, is to head a foundation named for the late soccer player that will be dedicated to the research and treatment of depression.
Enke committed suicide in November by throwing himself under a commuter train. A day later, his wife Teresa revealed on national television that Enke had been secretly suffering from depression, which had been worsened by recent set-backs in his soccer career.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who left behind a baby daughter, was set to go to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup with the Germany team
His suicide shocked soccer-obsessed Germany and more than 30,000 people attended his memorial service in the city of Hanover.
The foundation established in his memory has 150,000 euros ($215,000) in start capital, funded by the German soccer federation, the league association and Enke's club Hannover.
Teresa Enke was appointed Friday as the foundation's chief executive.
Soccer federation president Theo Zwanziger described her as "a strong, committed woman to whom we assure our full support for the foundation's next steps."
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Editor: Kyle James