Taylor Martinez, former quarterback for the University of Nebraska, has released a new “positive social network” app called Journey, which allows users with disabilities, disorders and chronic diseases to encourage each other and seek advice.

Martinez says that he was inspired to create the app after his famous touchdown experience with Jack Hoffman, a boy with pediatric brain cancer.

“Jack’s run inspired me to create Journey to connect people with the same challenges,” said Martinez. “Fifteen percent of the world has some form of disability. There’s no social media network out there where they can share that experience.”

Martinez sees Journey as a unique, safe place for people to tell their own stories.

“On Facebook there are groups for people with disabilities, but on here you can really share your journey,” said Martinez.

It’s clearly the most ambitious app Martinez has released so far. In 2013 his first mobile game, Follow the Pattern, attracted national media attention. In 2014 he released four more mobile games: Stupid FAST, Risky Road, Wobble Wobble, and, perhaps the most well-known, Tiny Ninja Jump.

Journey, however, is Martinez’s first foray into developing a social network.

“Doing a game is fun to do but with me and [co-founder] Loren Hall it’s been really touching,” said Martinez. “We’ve reached out to a lot of people with disabilities. Some of the emails we receive are inspiring. It means a lot to us.”

Martinez said he’s received some help from Jeff Slobotski, co-founder of Silicon Prairie News and founder of Router Ventures, as well as Blake Lawrence, CEO of opendorse.

How Journey works

Journey users start by creating a basic profile, which includes identifying one’s challenge. For example, “I have agoriphobia” or “An adult with breast cancer” The current app has over 300 categories to choose from. Users can then share reflections, struggles and photos of their journey.

One obvious question is what Journey plans to do about potential bullying, trolling, and fake accounts–common problems that plague many social media sites. When you download the Journey app, it warns that anyone who posts negative comments will have their profile “suspended indefinitely.”

“We have a system in place where it removes a comment after so many flags,” said Martinez. Martinez and Hall also can manage comments manually. They are currently the only two people working on Journey.

The app also has a verified account option as well.

“You can send in $2.99, and you’ll get a badge on your profile,” said Martinez. “It proves you are who you say you are.”

The app is free but includes in-app purchases.

“The in-app purchases help to cover the server because the server is expensive,” said Martinez. “We hope it will cover the operation of the servers.”

So what’s next for Martinez?

Martinez’s interest in helping people with challenges isn’t new. In 2014 he donated half the proceeds of his Risky Road app to the Team Jack Foundation, which supports pediatric brain cancer research.

Both Martinez and Hall, have been active in recent years helping children with special challenges.

So is app development still a hobby for Martinez, a personal mission or is it a business?

“Hopefully Journey grows. I don’t know how long it will take. I’m looking to make it a household name,” said Martinez. “That would be awesome.”

Where does he see all this going in the future?

“I might be moving up to San Francisco soon to work with tech companies up there,” said Martinez. “I like to be in the tech industry, and I have a lot of fun doing it.”

Journey is now available in the Apple App Store.