DALLAS — Studies show that veterans have a higher risk of being diagnosed with ALS compared to others. Doctors are still researching why there’s such a strong connection between the disease and those who have served.

One former Marine in North Texas says his recent diagnosis may be weakening his body, but it’s giving him strength in other ways.

An ALS diagnosis can be seen as a death sentence. There is no cure. It’s easy to lose hope, but for some reason, it’s this disease that’s giving one former Marine all the hope he needs to keep fighting--not just for himself, but for other veterans or anyone else who face or will face ALS.

Signs of his body shutting down are seen in his small limp. Nick Sloan is in a fight for his life, partly because he fought for our freedom.

The Marine Corp veteran is battling ALS.

 “All of them have to have a sword inside. So, if something goes down…a cane gun,” said Sloan.

The Sloan family occasionally jokes about the new walking cane he’s going to have to order soon. It helps them all cope with his diagnosis.

“If I do think about it, I probably would get sad or emotional, so I try not to since I’m in the middle of the field and about to have a game night,” said Karis Starnes, Sloan’s niece, right after being escorted on the football field for her cheerleading senior night at Sunnyvale High School.

“I hope I’m around long enough to see her graduate and college and eventually get married. I have the greatest wedding story,” Sloan added.

Sloan is always willing to tell friends and strangers what he’s going through. He wants to raise awareness about the disease. So is his niece. With the letters A, L, and S embroidered on T-shirts in Sunnyvale’s school colors, the cheerleading team put on a halftime show to get people’s attention.

“That was awesome. That was really sweet,” Sloan said after seeing the performance.

So far, the work the Sloan family is doing to get people to care is working. His wife, his kids, niece, and sister are all signed up to do a walk for ALS. The people they’ve connected with helped them to raise nearly $11,000.

“We crossed that $5,000 goal. Amazing,” said Christina Ervin, a staff accountant with the ALS Association.

The money will go towards research so doctors can find a cure. It was not Sloan's first intention to become a walking billboard and spokesperson for the disease. But, after going through pricey doctor visits, Sloan says he didn’t want to ruin an opportunity to do something meaningful.

“With the diagnosis and the symptoms that you’re going through, you’re not really worried about raising support for something like this. As you learn about the disease and how critical the fundraising element is for ALS and finding research and seeing my friends contribute and donate…I’m usually good at saying things, but I’m kind of at a loss for words,” Sloan expressed.

What they say is true. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Sloan is still trying to save lives, years after retiring from service.