NFL players around the league will be wearing customized cleats as part of the league's My Cause, My Cleats initiative on Sunday. For many players, the opportunity allows them to raise awareness for a cause. For Jets RT Brent Qvale, it allows him to honor a family member who is no longer with him.
Brent's wife's aunt, Margie, had been battling liver cancer since he and his wife married three and a half years ago.
"I got to know her well over the past couple of years. She had been battling the disease for many years, but it wasn't until this past summer that things took a turn for the worst," Qvale said.
In the weeks following her passing, Qvale and his wife, Melissa, knew that this coming weekend would be an opportunity to recognize someone who was so important to both of them.
With the permission and assistance of the family, the group chose Huddle Up for Life as the organization that would appear on Qvale's cleats for the Chiefs game. The charity provides "support to terminally ill family members of student athletes that allows cherished time together," according to their website.
"My wife and I feel like we're just trying to do our part to help honor her name and we hope it's something their family can enjoy," Qvale said.
After the game on Sunday, he will send the cleats to the organization so that they can be auctioned and raise money to help another family. Qvale appreciates the opportunity that this initiative gives to him and the rest of the players in the NFL.
"I think My Cause, My Cleats is a really good way for guys to show different charities and organizations they are passionate about," he said.
Qvale hopes to work with Huddle Up for Life in the future so that he can continue to help families with terminally ill family members and carry on Margie's legacy.
