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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.
For the second time in less than 6 months, Steve Gleason will complete 13.1 miles when his brother-in-law, Vinnie Varisco, pushes him along the course in a specially equipped, customized wheelchair. Varisco usually runs a half-marathon in less than 90 minutes, but took an hour and 52 minutes in their first race last October. “It’s more difficult. But again, it’s all relative, “ Varisco said. “Very rarely will you hear me or anyone around Steve complaining about something being difficult when you see what he goes through on a daily basis.”
Joining Steve and Vinnie in the race will be Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. McCready friended Steve when he attended the PJ20 Festival in 2011 celebrating Pearl Jam’s 20th anniversary. In addition to running, McCready will also perform the National Anthem to kick off the race as a representative of Team Gleason.
Many runners and walkers from across the country are joining Steve and Vinnie in New Orleans in an effort to raise money and spread awareness for ALS and The Gleason Initiative Foundation. Any donation you make is not only 100% tax deductible, but greatly appreciated by Steve, his family and others who are affected by ALS.
Chase announced today a $350,000 grant to The Team Gleason House for Innovative Living, funding the development of technologies that will help ALS and MS patients continue living more productive and purposeful lives.
The Team Gleason House will be located at St. Margaret’s Skilled Nursing Residence and will be the second U.S. facility of its kind. The collaboration between Chase and Team Gleason also supports New Orleans’ effort to develop a thriving BioDistrict and support innovation as a means to strengthen the local economy.
“The Team Gleason House was only a dream less than a year ago. Through our efforts and the extraordinary efforts of Chase and St. Margaret’s, we have realized that dream so ALS patients can continue to live, thrive and contribute to the community,” said Steve Gleason, founder of Team Gleason. “Until there is a medical cure for ALS, technology is the cure and we are proving that today.”
Monday, July 30th, 2012
Check-in begins at 9:00 AM. Tee off at 10:00 AM.
Blackstone Country Club. Aurora, Colorado.
Team Gleason Los Angeles event was a huge success!! Over 240 people came out to support us and we had over 50 silent and live auction items donated by friends, family and local businesses. It turned out to be a beautiful night with gorgeous views of the ocean, great music, fascinating speakers and delicious food and drinks. Needless to say, a fabulous time was had by all. We raised over $85,000 for Team Gleason! We were humbled and inspired to feel the support and strength of the community coming together to fight this terrible disease.
Join us at The Golf Club at Black Rock in Coeur d’Alene, ID to raise money for the The Gleason Initiative Foundation.
Steve and Michel attended Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Gala with local ALS patient Beth Crutcher. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Brad Pitt, Rihanna, Seal, Ellen DeGeneres, Snoop Dogg, Drew Brees and many more A-list.
610 Stompers invite you to become a Virtual 610 Stomper to benefit Team Gleason and The ALS Association.
Win the Virtual 610 Stomper “Peep Show” fundraising dance competition and become a 610 Stomper for a day. New Orleans’ favorite all-male dance team, the 610 Stompers, invites you to show off your extraordinary moves to benefit Team Gleason and the ALS Association. As part of the competition (open to all men and women over the age of 21) participants go to www.610stompers.com, learn a dance online via our instructional video and post the dance (and freestyle dance) on the “Peepshow.” Friends and family can “reveal” the dance by donating money to raise the virtual curtain.
Start dancing!! www.610stompers.com
Steve Gleason received an honor specially brewed just for him. Thursday night at the Hyatt Hotel, Abita Beer released a special brew as a tribute to the former Saint. It started as a Facebook contest, and the name selected as the winning label: Saint Gleason Imperial Red Ale. The ladies who suggested the winning name dinned as special guests of the Gleason family at Thursday night’s event. Abita Beer will donate 25 cents from the sale of each pint of beer to the Gleason Family Trust.
The Abita St. Gleason is available at:
THE BULLDOG (MID-CITY)
ABITA BREW PUB
THE BULLDOG (UPTOWN)
COOTER BROWN’S
RYAN’S IRISH PUB
BRUNOS TAVERN
AVENUE PUB
LAGER’S ALE HOUSE
NEW HOTEL MONTELEONE
RED FISH GRILL
SWAMP ROOM
FINN MC COOLS
BOURBON HOUSE
SLICE PIZZERIA
LE BON TEMP ROULE
45 TCHOUP
CRESCENT PIE & SAUSAGE CO
SLICE PIZZERIA (MAGAZINE)
THE DISTRICT
BORGNE RESTAURANT
COLUMBIA ST.TAP ROOM
In keeping with Steve’s mission to “raise public awareness toward ALS by providing and documenting extraordinary life adventures for individuals with muscular diseases or injuries”, Team Gleason is sending two people living with ALS to Superbowl 46. They will attend the game with Steve, have access to the NFL Experience, meet NFL players and attend dinners and parties. “This is a once in a lifetime chance and I thank Steve and Team Gleason for giving me this opportunity,” said Dudley Jourdan, who has ALS and is a lifelong Saints and football fan. “You have no idea what this means to me,” he added.
To answer the question of what to do on Steve’s one year anniversary of being diagnosed with ALS, his response was to take a large group of people skydiving in New Orleans. The event raised funds for the Gleason Initiative Foundation and friends and family jumped from a plane for Team Gleason. Steve himself was one of the first to go and the inspiration for the rest to follow.
The Gleason Initiative Foundation, Drew Brees and NOLA Fine Art released this, first ever, limited edition punt block lithograph. “I was there the night of Steve’s famous blocked punt,” said Hunt. “It was a storybook beginning to a second chapter for New Orleans. I believe Steve’s fight with ALS is an inspiration to all.”
Click Here for Exclusive Footage of The Gleason Lithograph Unveiling
This first annual music event, featured local music, a silent auction, a kids’ area, an autograph tent with Saints players and a mustache contest. A well attended event, Drew Brees, Sean Payton and many others were there to toast Steve and the Team Gleason efforts. Proceeds benefited the Gleason Family Trust, which helps the Gleasons offset the incremental costs of living with ALS and helps fund Steve’s participation in advanced and experimental technology, equipment and treatments. Better Than Ezra, Preservation Hall Jazz, Papa Grows Funk, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Kyle Turley Band and others headlined the event
