Former New Orleans Saints Safety, Steve Gleason will be honored with the 2024 Authur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS. The award is granted to those whose contributions transcend sports. Like Ashe whose work to improve the lives of people with HIV began after his own diagnosis, Gleason, diagnosed with ALS in 2011, founded Team Gleason to improve life for those living with ALS. Gleason’s publicist, Clare Durrett said,
“Once he was diagnosed he believed his future would be greater than his past, and his future has been. I mean we don’t know what’s gonna be on the horizon, but that really resonated with him with what Authur Ashe was able to do.”
After learning he was being honored, Gleason wrote, “My aim has always been to see if we can discover peace and freedom with a love of Life, in the midst of extreme adversity.” Durrett said Gleason’s memoir, “A Life Impossible” released in April provides a glimpse into his life.
“People, I think, finally get that it is such an enormous struggle for someone living with ALS to do the things that he’s done.”
The mission of Team Gleason, founded by Steve Gleason and his wife Michel is to improve life for others living with ALS by providing technology, equipment, and support services. Durett believes through this award others will be encouraged by Gleason’s ability to be purposeful and productive.
“I think this shines a light on what Team Gleason’s work does and hopefully it will also benefit the entire ALS community not just Team Gleason and people in Louisiana and this region.”
This year’s ESPYS will air live on Thursday, July 11 at 7 PM.