Team Gleason completed an epic adventure to Peru. pALS Steve Gleason and Kevin Swan along with Michel, Rivers, Scott Fujita, a crew from NFL Films and Team Gleason members endured a 7 day trek starting in Lima. The group took countless buses, 2 trains, 7 planes and hiked 10 miles through the Incan trail.
They spent 2 nights in Cusco getting acclimated to the high elevation and visiting the Cathedral, Qoricancha Temple, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cusco, Qenko and Puka Pukara. One of their favorite view was overlooking the Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo (photo on right). Team Gleason visited the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times, and set at the foot of a hill crowned by the remains of an ancient Inca city. They continued their trip through the countryside town of Urubamba to the ruins of Ollantaytambo.
On Day 4, they woke up early to catch the Vistadome train headed toward Machu Picchu, taking in stunning views of the mountains and heading into the high altitude cloud forest. They jumped off the train at km 104 and started what they were told would be a pretty flat 5 - 6 hour walk on the Inca Trail to Machu Pichhu. The 21 member group, which included Steve and Kevin in wheelchairs and 18-month old Rivers, joined a group of porters before crossing a hanging bridge over the Urubamba River. At this time none of them had any idea what they were about to endure.
The Incan trail is a combination of landscapes of high altitude mountain ranges (the Andes) and dense subtropical forest. It was extremely challenging to carry the 2 wheelchairs up and down the rocky narrow paths. The fearless leaders, Scott, Blair and Marc, were not going to let the lack of water and sunlight stop them from getting to their final destination. After 10 hours they finally reached the Sun Gate or the entrance and first view of Machu Picchu. Although the sun had been down for a few hours and the ruins could barely be seen through the moonlight, the group was excited to know it was the final leg and hour or their journey. Traversing downhill and along more steps in the dimly lit site, the group finally made it the Sanctuary Lodge for some much needed food, water and celebration. The following day they were elated with a huge sense of accomplishment to finally see the magnificent landscape of the ruins and mountains.
Steve Gleason will always be remembered for his blocked punt on the night the New Orleans Superdome reopened for the first time after Hurricane Katrina. Steve played for The New Orleans Saints from 2000-2008. In 2011, Steve was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), considered a terminal neuro-muscular disease. Steve is determined to inspire others by continuing to pursue life adventures despite his diagnosis, and has challenged the worlds of technology and science to identify their most promising developments toward new treatments and a cure.
Steve and his friends and family started Team Gleason to generate public awareness for ALS, raise funding to empower those with ALS to live a rewarding life, and ultimately find a cure.
Read More About Steve >>This video was created for Steve's football family – the players and coaches of the NFL – to show that whether they had lined up with him or against him on the field of play, they all support him in his fight against this cruel and unrelenting disease.
These great players all stand by Steve's belief that everyone who gets diagnosed with this disease has the right to fight, has the right to proper treatment and to the best available care. And they believe, like Steve does, that ALS is under-funded, under-resourced and largely ignored. And that this is NOT okay.
- This video represents the players' commitment to do something:
- • To take ALS out of the shadows and get people talking about it.
- • To get the best and brightest scientific minds together and ask them what they need to cure ALS.
- • And to make some noise, pressure the right people and raise the money to make it all happen.
This video is a message from these elite players, among the best and strongest in the world, to all the victims of this horrific disease to say: We're all in this together. And it's an invitation to the rest of the world to join the fi ght, and put all of our heads together to find a cure for ALS.
See more Team Gleason videos here
1. Help provide individuals with neuromuscular diseases or injuries with leading edge technology, equipment and services.
2. Create a global conversation about ALS to ultimately find solutions and an end to the disease.
3. Raise public awareness toward ALS by providing and documenting extraordinary life adventures for individuals with muscular diseases or injuries.
