Steve Gleason sports the 'No White Flags' slogan made famous during his fight against deadly disease.

Steve Gleason continues to take his fight against ALS to the masses.

The former New Orleans Saints special teams ace who made perhaps the most memorable play in franchise history has not shied away from the public eye as the disease continues to affect him.

Super Bowl week in New Orleans has become the latest step for the local legend and the Gleason Initiative Foundation, or Team Gleason, to reach out the the football world to raise awareness and money to seek a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

In the press release below, Gleason makes a personal plea in letter form to garner $5 million in donations to battle ALS before the Super Bowl kickoffs.

Gleason will always be remembered in New Orleans for his blocked punt on the night the Superdome reopened for the first time after Hurricane Katrina. He played for Saints from 2000-2008. In 2011, Steve was diagnosed with ALS, considered a terminal neuro-muscular disease.

Now, Gleason is seeking to make an even greater mark than that of a football hero while battling for his life. New Orleans and beyond continue to benefit thanks to his bravery and determination.

To support Gleason's efforts, you can donate to his foundation at TeamGleason.org/donate.

GLEASON LETTER (Feb. 1, 2013):

"In 2006 when I blocked that punt, it became a symbol. A symbol of how this city refused to give in and fade away.

I was diagnosed with ALS two years ago. With your support and love, we made a choice not to give in to the disease.

The choice not to fade away quietly has, in a similar way, sparked a movement.

Since the world began gathering in New Orleans, my home, at the beginning of this week, that movement has multiplied. And now, we are at a crucial moment.

We – the family of football – have an opportunity to do something truly remarkable that we will be able to look back on many years from now with a sense of profound pride.

We have the chance to rewrite the future of ALS. And we can do it right now. This historic week. We can mark the history of ALS with a before, and an after, at this very moment.

And so, inspired by you – by your incredible support and encouragement - I am launching a challenge. To myself and to you all. To the media, to the fans, to the big corporations, to the players, and to the owners – to all of you who have gathered here in my home city.

Help me raise $5 Million to mark the beginning of the end of ALS.

And help me do it by the end of the game on Sunday.

This is about something bigger than football. Something bigger than all of us.

The money will kick-start a research revolution to put new medical treatments on the market, to provide cutting-edge technology for patients and to make sure that never again will we expect people with ALS to just quietly fade away.

Now is our time. We can do this. Join me."

About Team Gleason

The Gleason Initiative Foundation is a charitable 501c3 non-profit corporation with the mission to help provide individuals with neuromuscular diseases or injuries with leading edge technology, equipment and services. It also works to raise public awareness toward amyotrophic lateral sclerosis "ALS" by providing and documenting extraordinary life adventures for individuals with muscular diseases or injuries. Go to www.teamgleason.org to help us meet our goal and find a cure.