LA Fitness Hosts Fundraiser, Action For ALS, To Help Find A Cure For Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Posted: February 28, 2017 in Chains
LA Fitness
IRVINE, CA – In support of Augie’s Quest, LA Fitness hosted its seventh annual in-club event, Action for ALS, across the company’s over 690 locations on Saturday, February 25, 2017. Augie’s Quest is a nonprofit research initiative dedicated to finding a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
LA Fitness donated 100% of the proceeds from the event to Augie’s Quest, which directly funds the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI). ALS, a debilitating neurodegenerative disease, is diagnosed in approximately 6,000 people per year. Survival is typically three to five years after diagnosis, and no cure currently exists for the disease.
In March 2005, Augie Nieto, a prominent leader in the fitness industry, was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Despite the limitations of the disease, Augie continues to lead an active life and serve as an activist for others fighting the disease. After his diagnosis, Augie coped with his illness by drawing strength from his family, friends and a flood of messages from supporters. Realizing that he could use his voice to raise awareness for others, Augie formed “Augie’s Quest” with the sole purpose of finding a cure for ALS.
“We are so grateful for the $260,450 that LA Fitness has raised for ALS research over the years. That money is making a huge impact in the lab, leading to the identification of AT-1501, a promising treatment for ALS. With the continued support of LA Fitness and their members, we are confident we can get this drug into Phase 2 clinical trials next year,” said Augie Nieto, Chief Inspiration Officer of Augie’s Quest. “We appreciate all that LA Fitness does to increase awareness and give hope to families affected by this devastating disease.”
“We don’t want any barriers to stand in the way of maximizing our company-wide fundraising efforts for this worthy cause, so we invite members and non-members alike to attend this event. We also want to mention how proud we are of our members’ participation and how thankful we are for their generous support,” said Bill Horner, Senior Vice President/Chief Real Estate Officer at LA Fitness.
The event was open to the public for a minimum donation of $20 in support of Augie’s Quest.
