MONTREAL - The 3,000 Canadians living with ALS might have been given a bad break but they've got an awful lot to live for.

Unfortunately they've usually only got two to five years to battle progressive paralysis until their days end.

The memory of one of the 600-or-so Quebecers who battle the disease –also known as Lou Gehrig's disease -- was honoured in a fundraiser Saturday.

The march showed how much the well-loved Tony Proudfoot meant to the city and continues to mean to the battle against the disease, for which he has raised $650,000 to fight.

At each fundraiser the battle against the disease is coupled with tender memories of the former Alouette, radio broadcaster and Dawson College Phys Ed teacher.

Nobody misses him more than his wife who watched on as he bravely fought the inevitable.

"He lost his speech and his ability to swallow and then finally to breathe," said Vicky Proudfoot

Proudfoot eventually succumbed just before the New Year.

The longtime player was also known for his radio analysis of football games and his partner saw him keep the problem in perspective.

"He was losing his motor skills and losing his voice and yet he would still make Monty Python-eque jokes about his own condition," said Rick Moffatt.

And the Alouettes, back-to-back CFL champs, might have a debt to the fallen star.

"He really inspired me when he was going through his whole fight and to see him in the locker room-was very inspirational," said Als QB Anthony Calvillo.

After decades of research there is still no effective treatment to deal with ALS. The hope is that money raised could be transformed into effective treatments but until then, an ALS diagnosis remains a death sentence.

And the diagnosis is not easy to break to loved ones.

"When you have to announce it to your wife and to your family. I would say that's really difficult," says ALS patient Alain Berard. "You have to live one day at a time."

And those days should be cherished, each one a gift, as Proudfoot's daughter has learned.

"Just living in the moment and just living each day that you have together makes all the difference and makes it special for your memories," said Lauren Proudfoot.