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Champions

Sep 09
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Fitness World Canada Raises $20,000 to Support ALS Research and Patient Care

By Champions No Comments

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fitness World Canada and its community successfully raised $20,000 in September for their partnership with Augie’s Quest, an organization seeking a cure for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) through funding research, patient care, and awareness initiatives. Throughout September, Fitness World hosted a series of fundraising events that members could engage with to raise money. This month, the gym doubled the impact of the campaign by matching every dollar raised by members and the community.

In the month-long campaign, Fitness World gym locations held three core events that invited members and local Vancouverites to support ALS awareness and care initiatives in meaningful ways: Specialty fitness classes, a train-the-trainer program, and ongoing donations, providing various channels of support for members and non-members to contribute.

This campaign saw Fitness World join a larger collective of gyms and fitness industry leaders that were inspired by the work of Augie’s Quest, co-founded in 2005 by Augie Nieto, the successful fitness industry mogul, following his ALS diagnosis. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impacts the ability to control muscle movements such as walking, talking, eating, or breathing underscores the importance of physical mobility and strength, both of which are essential to everyday life and deeply valued within the fitness community. Augie’s Quest moves forward in Augie’s memory and his legacy through campaigns like these that see the local community band together towards a common goal.

“The dedication of our members and the greater community to support Augie’s Quest and ALS research and care has been incredibly moving,” said Chris Smith, President and CEO of Fitness World. “By matching every dollar raised, we wanted to help amplify their generosity and underscore the potential for collective impact.”

About Fitness World Canada:
Fitness World is a high-value, low-cost gym with 17 locations across the Lower Mainland. Committed to helping people reach their fitness goals, Fitness World offers inclusive spaces, state-of-the-art equipment, personalized programs, and numerous amenities starting at just $9.99 bi-weekly. Visit fitnessworld.ca for more information.

About Augie’s Quest:
At Augie’s Quest, our mission is to find a cure for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and improve the lives of those affected by this devastating disease. Through our relentless pursuit of a cure, we have made significant strides and continue to drive progress in the fight against ALS.

Contact:
Yulu Public Relations
fw@yulupr.com
+1.604.558.1656

Jun 05
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Los Angeles Angels partner with Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS to host Lou Gehrig Day

By Champions No Comments

Orange County local Johnny Rodriguez and family attend Angel’s Baseball batting practice and represent the ALS community at June 3rd game against the San Diego Padres.


“The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are once again, proud to partner with Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS in our Lou Gehrig Day celebration.  On Monday, June 3rd at our game against the San Diego Padres, we’ve invited Johnny Rodriguez and his family to represent the ALS community on field before the game and attend batting practice.  Johnny is the varsity lacrosse coach at Mater Dei High School and a young father to two little boys with his wife Cristina.  Johnny’s initiative “Athlete’s vs. ALS” inspires us all to do more to help families living with ALS and embodies the spirit of Lou Gehrig himself!”

Jun 04
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Los Angeles Dodgers partner with Augie’s Quest to host Lou Gehrig Day

By Champions, Our Champions No Comments

Augie’s Quest was honored to be a part of the Los Angeles Dodger’s Lou Gehrig Day on Sunday, June 2nd.  Johnny Rodriguez represented Augie’s Quest and Athletes vs. ALS by throwing out the first pitch.  Other Southern California ALS families in attendance included Erin and Lily Taylor (tag), and Rick Canter and family.

“Dodger Fans, in honor of Lou Gehrig Day, throwing out today’s honorary first pitch is Athletes vs. ALS founder Johnny Rodriguez. Johnny is a former professional athlete who had a successful college lacrosse career before being drafted into the professional lacrosse league. He is currently a beloved and respected lacrosse coach and was recently credited with turning the team’s lacrosse program into a perennial nationally ranked team over the last decade.  

After his diagnosis with ALS in the Fall of 2023 at the age of 35, Johnny partnered with Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, motivating his community to raise critical funds for ALS research. Rodriguez goal is to help provide hope to people living with ALS.  “

 

Los Angeles, California – June 2: Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, June 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)


Los Angeles, California – June 2: Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, June 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)


Los Angeles, California – June 2: Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, June 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

 

Los Angeles, California – June 2: Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, June 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)


Los Angeles, California – June 2: Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, June 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Juan Ocampo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

Feb 06
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Augie’s Quest Research Update

By Champions No Comments

We lost our hero, Augie Nieto, on February 22, 2023. Augie’s Quest lives on as Augie lived. We stay true to his vision, his heart, and his relentless focus on driving breakthroughs in ALS research. We exist to fund the top science to change lives.

We’re proud of our partnership with the ALS Therapy Development Institute, and what the funding from Augie’s Quest has contributed to this past year including:

  • Identifying lifestyle factors through the ALS Research Collaborative that could play a role in the risk of developing ALS or potentially contribute to a slower progression of the disease. This valuable information has the potential to guide future generations in better understanding ways to influence the progression of ALS or even prevent its development. This dataset is made possible through the generous contribution of essential data by nearly 1000 individuals with ALS, and your past support of Augie’s Quest.
    • This de-identified data is shared with researchers around the world to advance the global effort to find effective treatments for ALS.
  • Funding of the Augie’s Quest Translational Research Center that
  • Initiated collaborative studies, using advanced cell biology techniques, to explore two new drug targets– medicine intervention points – in motor neurons from people with ALS grown in the lab.
  • Developed new techniques for growing and studying axons – the long connections between neurons and muscles – in the lab.
    • These long connections break down in ALS. Understanding how they break down and discovering ways to stop that is important for developing effective treatments.
  • Initiated important studies of the how cells from people with ALS handle or mishandled critical RNA molecules.
    • RNA molecules carry the instructions from human genes to the rest of the cell so that the cells can function properly. This is impaired in ALS and will likely need to be repaired. Scientists in the AQ TRC are exploring treatments that might address this dysfunction.

We proudly use the tagline “incurable is unacceptable,” because we can’t stop, we won’t stop, until there are treatments available for everyone with ALS that truly improve their lives and end this horrible disease.