ENGLEWOOD — A Broncos fan living with an incurable disease looked into the camera with a message for quarterback Bo Nix.

“Hi, Bo. I’m Larry Harms. I wanted to personally thank you for trying to find a cure and support people with ALS. I am, unfortunately, one of those people,” said Harms, a 76-year-old Air Force veteran, wearing a blue “Bolieve” shirt in his Castle Pines home. “I think everyone who deals with this disease can only appreciate how important it is to have important people like yourself provide support and give us visibility into this ugly disease.”

On Saturday, following the second training camp practice at Broncos Park, The Denver Gazette showed the video to Nix, the 25-year-old answer to Broncos Country’s prayers — in more ways than one.

“That’s why you do it,” Nix told The Denver Gazette. “You don’t do it for the exposure. You don’t do it for really anything but helping the cause.”

His support for those living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — a progressive neurodegenerative terminal disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord — is more than just words.

Nix partnered with ALS United Rocky Mountain in January to raise money supporting the nonprofit’s mission to “unite and empower the ALS community through a collaborative approach of providing comprehensive care and support to individuals and families affected by ALS, advancing national and state advocacy, and fostering bold research initiatives.”

The idea: Selling orange-and-blue shirts on his merchandise website (shopbonix.com) featuring the “Bolieve” slogan with all net proceeds benefiting ALS United Rocky Mountain.

The result: Nix this offseason presented the nonprofit with a check for $10,000.

“All of it goes to (ALS) research and finding ways to get on top of it. I think it builds up their spirits just knowing there is movement and progress. It’s more of a help to them than anything,” Nix told The Denver Gazette. “Me and my team just like taking what’s going on and making it about other people. ‘Bolieve’ was cool. We took it (for the shirt design) and ended up giving the proceeds.”

The Nix-ALS connection started in college when he played three football seasons for Auburn (2019-21). Nix developed a close friendship with tight end Luke Deal. His father, Chris Deal, was diagnosed with ALS and passed away in the summer of 2022.

“ALS has been important to me,” Nix said. “I’ve had a couple of friends that have been directly impacted by it. I’ve seen the cruelty of it. It’s just something that has impacted me that I can help maybe change.”

The local ALS community embraces his support.

Harms, a longtime Broncos fan, was diagnosed in 2013. He joined the board of directors at ALS United Rocky Mountain the following year. Harms is a rare case. The average life expectancy is 2 to 5 years after ALS diagnosis. Patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed. There are more than 5,000 people diagnosed with the disease every year.

Harms has lived with ALS for more than a decade. He struggles with balance and is unable to walk without support. But his wheelchair accessible van is equipped with hand-driving controls, and he still enjoys trips to The Home Depot. His home is updated with wheelchair accessible bathrooms and an elevator from the main floor to the basement.

“When they tell you that you’ve got 2 or maybe 3 years to go, and for the last couple of years, you’re going to be out of commission completely — except for your memory — it was heartbreaking,” Harms said. “It was hard on the family. The thought of not seeing my grandkids grow up probably affected me the most. Now, my granddaughter is heading to college, and my grandson is going to be a junior in high school. … I’m not fortunate to have ALS. But I’m fortunate to have this cycle that I’ve been in.

“It’s been a blessing and it’s been a curse. Because I’ve seen so many people die in my time, and seeing what they’ve gone through, and knowing that it’s coming. It’s going to happen sooner than later. I’m thankful that I’m still able to do stuff, but it’s scary to see what’s happened to people and what their devastation is from it.”

Harms’ role on the board of ALS United Rocky Mountain — overseeing Colorado, Wyoming and Utah — helps patients and their families confront the harsh reality of ALS diagnosis.

The nonprofit offers care services and support, free of charge, to ALS patients and their families struggling with the financial burden of regular doctor visits, specialized medical equipment, home renovations and other costs associated with the disease.

Harms traveled to Washington, D.C., on three occasions to lobby congress to support ALS grants. The nonprofit also directly funds the latest medical research toward finding a cure. ALS United Rocky Mountain reported serving more than 600 people living with ALS in 2024 while raising $12.6 million for disease research.

“It affects people from all classes. A lot of people just don’t have the funds to deal with it. Their life is just turned upside down. Everything they have is gone. All their money is gone. It’s really sad to see,” Harms said. “We need help. We need support from individuals, companies and government. They need to help us with funding to provide support for the people who have it. The government needs to work as hard as they can to find a cure for it.”

Nix joins a growing list of NFL players to raise awareness of ALS. Former Saints defensive back Steve Gleason was diagnosed with the disease in 2011. He remains a strong advocate for ALS awareness, even after the disease took away his ability to independently move, speak and breathe. A December 2021 study from Boston University’s CTE Center found that 38 NFL players were diagnosed with ALS between 1960 and 2019.

Nix is thankful his “Bolieve” fundraiser has gained so much support, especially from Broncos Country.

“You get to help others impact others. That is what’s really cool,” Nix told The Denver Gazette. “When we all work together, good things happen. … The most important thing is being willing. Then it’s just opening eyes to seeing what can be done.”

Harms shows off his Broncos fandom with pride in the basement of his Castle Pines home.

There are footballs signed by John Elway and John Lynch. There’s a framed poster with autographs from wide receivers Ed McCaffrey, Shannon Sharpe and Rod Smith. But there is a new favorite piece of Broncos memorabilia in his closet: a “Bolieve” shirt.

“I have a few of these myself,” Harms said. “I’ve given them out as gifts. But it’s a great way to not only raise money, but raise awareness. That’s really the key to nonprofits trying to help things like this. You’ve got to get the name out there. I didn’t know what ALS was when I was diagnosed with it. I knew it wasn’t good. But I didn’t know it was that bad, either.

“Having him as somebody that’s a champion of our cause is just tremendous.”