Former NFL player Steve Gleason received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS this month for his work in advocating for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Gleason, who spent seven seasons in the NFL, all with the New Orleans Saints, was diagnosed with ALS in 2011 when he was 33.

“Over the past 13 years, I’ve been documenting our journey with ALS,” Gleason shared in a post on Instagram after the award was announced. “Being recognized at the 2024 ESPYS is not only an honor, but a powerful platform to further help and serve others. Thank you, ESPN, for this incredible accolade.”

The award recipients “reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe and possess strength, courage, and willingness to stand up for their beliefs in the face of adversity,” according to ESPN, which presents the awards. This is Gleason’s third advocacy award. He received a National Achievement Award from the American Brain Foundation in 2012 and a Congressional Gold Medal in 2019.

After his diagnosis, Gleason formed Team Gleason, a nonprofit that provides people with ALS programming and support services. In 2015, the nonprofit group successfully lobbied Congress for the passage of the Steve Gleason Act, which amended the Social Security Act to cover eye-tracking and gaze interaction communication devices.

Eye-tracking technology allowed Gleason, who has lost all limb muscle function and uses a ventilator to breathe, to write his memoir with Jeff Duncan. Called A Life Impossible: Living with ALS: Finding Peace and Wisdom Within a Fragile Existence, the book chronicles Gleason’s time in the NFL and his experiences since his diagnosis.

The ESPYs aired on July 11 on ABC and was hosted by tennis superstar Serena Williams.