Cleveland Browns linebacker 
From helping to rebuild both the city and the Saints football team after Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans and caused millions of dollars worth of damage to the Superdome to helping lead the team to a Super Bowl XLIV championship win over the Indianapolis Colts, Fujita loved being a part of the Crescent City.
More importantly than the games and memories, Fujita enjoyed the bonds he formed with his teammates, including special teams standout Steve Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis -- which is referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease after the former New York Yankees baseball player who passed away as a result of the illness back in 1941.
Gleason, who travelled across the country to see experts in the field before getting the final diagnosis, broke the news to Fujita the night before the Browns played in New Orleans on October 24, 2010.
“When he first told me about the diagnosis, I was just floored because I lost my uncle to ALS about 16 years ago, so I know how challenging and aggressive this disease is,” Fujita said. “Knowing what he was about to face, knowing what his wife Michel was going to face because I remember what my aunt had to go through with everything that comes with having ALS, I was horrified and emotional because Steve and I are such good friends.”
When Fujita heard the news, he immediately went to work trying to help his good friend.
During the 2011 season, Fujita and other current and former Saints flew to New Orleans to present Gleason with a ring from their Super Bowl XLIV victory. That night, Gleason also received a key to the city from New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu.
Prior to the Monday party, Gleason, who retired two years before the Super Bowl win, visited with the Saints, served as the honorary coin toss captain and got to lead the Superdome’s “Who Dat” pregame chant. Browns coach Pat Shurmur was supportive of Fujita’s efforts.
“The Cleveland Browns have been extremely supportive of this,” Fujita said. “When Steve announced the diagnosis, I was organizing an event for the day after he announced his diagnosis. It was on a Monday during the work-week for us. I talked to Pat about it and he excused me to go down and help host this party. This was the launching point for Team Gleason and from that standpoint, the Browns have always been supportive.”
Not one to be deterred by the illness, Gleason embraced the Team Gleason mantra, “No white flags.”
He traveled across the country with his newly-pregnant wife. They bought a camper van and drove from New Orleans to California and then, up to Seattle. Before heading to a Pearl Jam concert in Milwaukee, Wisc. and back to New Orleans, the Gleasons drove from Seattle to Anchorage, Alaska.
“That’s the kind of guy he is,” Fujita said. “Even three weeks ago, he had a bunch of his friends jump out of an airplane to help raise money for ALS in New Orleans. He’s just got that kind of spirit. Part of the mission for him is to help other people who have the same diagnosis and help them live their lives and promoting and trying to find breakthroughs in technology and support systems because the best way to extend life and to improve quality of life is through technology. That’s one of Steve’s passions, doing everything he can to help drive this process to help get new breakthroughs and help people live more valuable lives and find a reason to want to survive and actually thrive.”
In helping others thrive, Team Gleason is going on “Expeditions,” trips that give ALS patients an opportunity to do something they previously thought was impossible. Through the help of Browns quarterback
“The Browns actually donated a number of their tickets from their allotment for the game so this patient and his nurse could come to the game,” Fujita said. “The nationwide response from everyone, the Browns, the Saints, the NFLPA, the NFL league office, out here on the West Coast, all over the place, people have been supportive.”
With the help of Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, Gleason’s story will be profiled on NBC about two hours before kickoff to the Super Bowl between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.
“Everybody wants to get up, go to work and provide for their families, Fujita said. “Everybody wants to be happy, but one thing that gets lost in that conversation is everybody also wants to be inspired and that’s what Steve and Team Gleason are doing for so many people and that’s why the response has been so positive. For everyone out there that has no connection to ALS, no connection to Steve, no connection to New Orleans, it’s a message. It’s about living your life to the best, living in the moment and never stop doing the things that you want to do. To me, Steve’s a perfect guy to send that message.”
To learn more about Team Gleason, visit http://www.teamgleason.org/ or follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/team_gleason
