NFL Player Garett Bolles Wears His Learning Disability With Pride to Support the 1 in 5

By Tara Drinks

This Sunday, December 3, standout rookie Garett Bolles of the Denver Broncos will be sporting cleats with special meaning to the 1 in 5 people with learning and attention issues. It’s a part of the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” initiative. Players get a chance to showcase a cause that’s close to their hearts (or feet!). Bolles will wear custom-designed cleats in support of Understood founding partner the National Center for Learning Disabilities.

Bolles talked about his own challenges with a learning disability in a press statement. “Kids would make fun of me just because I couldn’t read and I couldn’t say certain words,” he said. “One in five kids … That’s not something we should overlook.”

He’s not only giving back, he hasn’t been held back. The starting tackle was a first-round NFL draft pick and is the only rookie player on the Broncos to play every game this season. On his Twitter account, Bolles provided a touching explanation for celebrating the 1 in 5:

Bolles is one of many athletes who have shared their struggles with learning and attention issues.

This post originally appeared on Understood.org.