About

Augie and Lynne Nieto
Co-Chairs
ALS Division

Personal History

Augustine (Augie) Nieto, a prominent leader in the nation’s fitness industry for nearly three decades, received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in March 2005. Augie, 53, is approaching his role as co-chair of MDA’s ALS Division with the same ironclad will and determination that catapulted him to entrepreneurial heights in the fitness world.

Family and Fitness

Augie and his wife, Lynne, live in Corona Del Mar, Calif. They have four children: Nicole, Danielle, Austin and Lindsay. Augie is a 1980 graduate in economics from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California.

He says, “My first priority is to spend time with my family. What I learned later in my career is that it is not the quantity but the quality of time you spend that matters.”

Augie was co-founder and former president of Life Fitness and is now chairman of Octane Fitness. In September 2005, he received the fitness industry’s top honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lynne is a 1980 graduate in accounting from the University of Colorado in Boulder. She worked for more than 20 years in her family’s business. She retired in 2000, and both Lynne and Augie enjoy spending time together and traveling with their children.

MDA Involvement and Augie’s Quest

The Nietos work closely with MDA staff to coordinate fundraising events that will benefit MDA’s worldwide ALS research program. In his campaign called Augie’s Quest, Nieto has raised millions for MDA’s ALS Division.

Augie also serves MDA as a national vice president.

As co-chairs of the ALS Division, the Nietos help raise awareness through public appearances, speaking engagements, media interviews, and public service announcements.

“We’re thrilled and honored to be working with the MDA. We’re going to help put a face on this disease and raise money for research in a fast-track format.”

MDA’s ALS Division

ALS destroys the nerve cells controlling muscles, ultimately causing complete paralysis while leaving mental function intact. Survival is typically three to five years after diagnosis, and no cure exists.

MDA is the world leader among voluntary agencies in fighting ALS, offering the most comprehensive range of services. People with ALS receive care at more than 35 MDA/ALS centers or at any of the MDA outpatient clinics, of which there are some 200 across the country.