Fleury leads walk for abuse awareness
Former NHL star Theo Fleury will lead the Victor Walk on Tuesday as he and his team set from Edmonton to Calgary to address communities about stigmas around childhood sexual trauma.
Sexual assault statistics in Canada indicate 60 per cent of sexual abuse and assault victims are under the age of 17.
Fleury, who was sexually abused by disgraced junior hockey coach Graham James in the 1980s, has dedicated his efforts to bring awareness to the issue.
“For us to belong somewhere in the world, to share something in common that we have overcome and have gone on to live happy, healthy and productive lives and have healthy relationships, that’s really what the Victor Walk is promoting,” Fleury said.
The previous Victor Walk in 2013 brought visible changes to survivors of sexual trauma.
“By the time they left us you could see the change where they got rid of the shame, their eyes were brighter, there was a little more bounce in their step and they didn’t feel alone.”
The movement has an ongoing petition calling for new federation legislation that ensures convicted pedophiles serve a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and those who knowingly aided pedophiles to serve a minimum of five years.
In addition to raising awareness, the movement aims to raise money during the walk for the Breaking Free Foundation, a non- profit organization created by Fleury and other advocates that support people looking for financial help to cover therapy.
Fleury encourages people to tell their stories.
“You don’t have to carry this secret around and it is definitely not uncommon.”
This year marks the second Victor Walk.