On Sunday, November 23, Luke Fortner, offensive lineman for the New Orleans Saints, will take the field wearing a very special pair of purple cleats as he participates in the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats program. My Cause My Cleats allows players to wear customized footwear with designs representing causes close to their hearts. Fans inspired by their favorite player’s cleats are encouraged to donate to the chosen nonprofit organization, and the cleats themselves are later auctioned off to raise additional funds.
Choosing to Support ALS Research
For 2025, Luke chose to support research to develop effective treatments for ALS. It’s a cause he’s deeply connected to on a personal level—his high school coach is currently battling the disease. Due to a lack of effective treatments, most people with ALS currently survive only 3 to 5 years after diagnosis. To honor his coach’s fight, he chose to raise funds for ALS TDI—a nonprofit biotech dedicated to ending the disease. As the most comprehensive drug discovery lab focused solely on ALS, ALS TDI works relentlessly to discover and develop treatments for everyone with the disease.
Doug Downing, another former coach of Luke's, is actively involved in raising funds for ALS research through the Toledo Takes on ALS beer festival, which benefits ALS TDI through the Ales for ALS™ program. Luke’s cleats will pay tribute to ALS TDI, Toledo Takes ALS, and John Schinharl, the festival's founder, who is also living with ALS.
“I’ve witnessed great people and families affected by this disease,” says Luke. “My former coach Doug Downing and his wife, Lisa, have helped raise money via Toledo Takes on ALS, and I’ve seen how important it is to them. While I’ve not met John personally, I’ve heard nothing but great things about him and his family.”
“On top of that, the New Orleans Saints' connection to Steve Gleason is one I’ve learned so much about over the past few months. Learning about the incredible work his foundation has done has been really eye-opening. It felt like the perfect opportunity to tie in the Saints community and Toledo Takes on ALS from home.”
Designing Custom Cleats for ALS Research
Luke says that the design of his cleats will honor both ALS TDI’s efforts to end the disease and the role fundraising efforts like Toledo Takes on ALS play in making our work possible.
“The cleats feature a purple color to signify the combination of ALS TDI (purple) and Toledo Takes on ALS (blue),” he says. “We thought it was important to focus on the large-scale organization that has resources behind it and then tie it in with the grassroots fundraisers that feed into it. Having a community connection is what allows us to raise money AND awareness.”
In addition to ALS TDI and Toledo Takes on ALS, Luke says that it was important to recognize the man whose efforts made the event—which raised more than $250,000 for ALS research in 2025 alone—possible.
“John’s name is in small print on the back of the cleats,” he says. “Featuring him was important to us, but I have a feeling he would have been upset if it were much larger! Featuring John felt like the right decision because he is a loving father and husband who goes out of his way to help raise money and awareness for all the other people who have, are, or will be facing this disease.”
ALS TDI and My Cause My Cleats
In addition to Luke’s support this year, several NFL players have chosen to support ALS TDI’s essential research to end ALS in the past, including:
Bryan Bulaga, Los Angeles Chargers, 2020
Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans, 2018
Trevor Davis, Green Bay Packers, 2017
By lending their support, these athletes are helping to elevate ALS awareness and drive the research that brings us closer to treatments. To learn more about ALS TDI and donate to support Luke’s efforts, click here.
If you’re interested in owning Luke’s game-worn cleats and supporting ALS research, look for them on the My Cause My Cleats auction page after this weekend’s game.
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