Kevin Turner Documentary Sheds Light On ALS - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

Kevin Turner was a football player.  He played eight seasons in the NFL, including a stint with the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1990s.  He was a fullback.  He loved the game. 

When he retired in 2000, at the age of 31, doctors said he had the spinal column of a 65-year-old.  All those hits . . .

Just two years ago, Kevin was diagnosed with ALS - otherwise knows as Lou Gherig's Disease. 

According to the Boston Globe, Turner is the 14th player to be diagnosed with ALS since 1960. That's a much higher rate than occurs in most males.

In 2010 he told Fox 29's tom Scredenschek,  "It's kind of the culture that you're in to be able to play through – you know, I tried to play through anything as long as I didn't think it was, you know, too, too serious," Turner said. "And that's why I finally gave it up after, you know, I got a hit out there. And it wasn't a vicious hit, either. It was just kind of a glancing blow, and both of my arms went numb. I knew right then that I wasn't going to do it anymore."

Kevin has created The Kevin Turner Foundation with the following goals in mind:

1. Bring attention to ALS and the need for a cure

2. Raise awareness about the seriousness of brain trauma in athletes at every level of competition and its possible connection to ALS

3. And to financially support efforts to study, treat, prevent and ultimately cure this disease.

Kevin has returned to Philadelphia to promote a new documentary that will not only shed light on this disease - it will also showcase his love of the game and his love of family.

Check out his awesome interview from good Day this morning and if you would like to attend the screening, click here.