Al Chesley, who played linebacker for the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles in an NFL career that spanned two decades, is being given an award Tuesday. But it's not for anything he accomplished on the football field.
Chesley, 53, is receiving the National Center for Victims of Crime's annual Leadership Award.
A child sexual assault survivor turned victims' rights advocate, Chesley began his new mission as a leader pioneering on behalf of crime victims nearly five years ago. The D.C. native is among four people being honored by the Washington-based center for their advocacy work.
"Al went from a victim to a survivor to an advocate, which is so important for victims to see," said the center's executive director, Mai Fernandez.
Chesley was assaulted at age 13 for several months but went 35 years before talking about the abuse. Then he met with other survivors and began to find a solution for himself and others.
Over the past five years, Chesley has been to schools and recreation centers around the country to talk to youth and help recovering survivors. Tuesday is the first time his advocacy work will be recognized, however, aside from his appearance last year on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" honoring 200 male sexual abuse survivors.
But Chesley said Tuesday's award is not really his own.
"It's not about me; it's about speaking for those who can't speak for themselves," Chesley told The Washington Examiner, adding that even with his experience on football teams, the bond he has with other survivors is much stronger. "My duty as a survivor is to protect other kids."
The National Center for Victims of Crime now partners with more than 15,000 organizations and for more than 25 years has worked to provide crime victims with the rights, protections and services they need to rebuild their lives. It works with Boys and Girls Clubs, domestic violence organizations, and law enforcement, providing assistance with anything from identity theft to disabilities.
