Former NHL star Theo Fleury walks to Winnipeg to raise awareness about child sexual abuse
It started with a book signing in Toronto and on Saturday, former NHL star Theo Fleury was in Winnipeg to raise awareness about child sexual abuse and break the stigma around mental health issues.
Fleury was among a crowd of about 50 people walking in support of the Victor Movement. The group started in Russell, Man., on July 19 and ended at the legislature in Winnipeg.
"Being vulnerable is the key to all of this and the message is it's okay to ask for help, it doesn't mean you are weak it actually means you have courage and strength and you care about yourself," Fleury said.
"So that's why we do this and it has absolutely been one of the most amazing walks."
Fleury wrote the book Playing With Fire in 2009, which documented his hockey career and battle with addictions. He also wrote about how he had been sexually abused by former hockey coach Graham James.
Fleury was at his first book signing in Toronto when a man walked up to him.
"He gets to the front of the line and puts the book on the table and looks me in the eye and says 'me too'," Fleury said.
"That's sort of when I knew what the rest of my life was going to look like. Since that first 'me too' we've had over 600,000 people either indirectly or directly say 'me too' as well."
All of the money and donations raised will go to a number of organizations that are working to stop child sexual abuse.
"I really believe this is what I was meant to do from day one. I believe there is a plan for all of our lives and this is part of my plan," Fleury said.
On Friday, disgraced junior hockey coach and convicted sex offender James sought full parole, with the support of his case workers.
James is serving a seven-year sentence for sexually assaulting players he coached in the late 1980s and early '90s with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. He was convicted of sexually assaulting six of his former players hundreds of times during that period.
Fleury said it was disappointing to hear about James but he wanted to focus on helping other survivors.
"There's probably a good chance that he's going to be set free and have a life," he said.
"I don't really care about justice anymore because I have walked my healing journey."
Fleury said that the more people he has helped the more he has been able to heal.
