Augie Nieto was our hero. 
 
He inspired us, made us laugh, and made us cry. He taught us that when life hands you unspeakable challenges, what really matters is surrounding yourself with people who love you, and a cause you believe in. He was passionate about finding a cure for ALS, and we are proud to be “Augie’s team”.
 
Augie passed peacefully yesterday surrounded by his beloved wife, Lynne, his family and loved ones.
 
Augie wrote:
 
Please keep me in your hearts…please help continue the progress of Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS. Please help Lynne to carry on the mission – the second finest achievement of my life. Because I will be in your heart, I will get to experience the joy when we discover a cure.
 
Augie was a visionary – an icon in the fitness industry, and a powerful force in the ALS space. He was the Co-Founder and retired CEO of Life Fitness, Chairman and Co-Founder of Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, and the Chairman of the ALS Therapy Development Institute. He was a beloved husband, father, brother, son, mentor, and friend. Under his leadership, almost $200 million was raised for ALS research. More importantly, Augie was directly responsible for countless advancements and changing the landscape of this horrific disease that ultimately took him just after his 65th birthday.
 
We were proud to fight with Augie and Lynne to transform the way ALS research is funded, approaching it in unprecedented ways. We will diligently work beside his beloved wife in Augie’s honor and memory to find a cure for ALS.
 
Augie wrote:
 
I know that my fight is not over. I have battled ALS for almost 18 years. Physically, ALS has finally taken my body, but my battle to rid the world of this insidious disease will continue.
 
We love you Augie. We’re with you, Lynne.
 
Your Augie’s Quest Team
 
Shannon, Gretchen, Kelly, Angel and Kelsey

August 26, 2022: Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS granted $159,122 to the ALS Therapy Development Institute today. Special thanks to Scott Cameron, recipient of the Phil Green award and chairman of the Cure ALS Golf Classic, for playing a key role in raising these research funds, which are granted in his honor. Scott is a member of the Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS Leadership Council and works tirelessly to find treatments and a cure in honor of his late father, Sandy, who had ALS.

“Thank you to Scott Cameron for sharing our Quest to find a cure for ALS, and his continued leadership,” said Augie Nieto, Chairman of Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS.  “With warriors like Scott and his family, we’re closer than ever to a cure.  We’re proud to provide these funds to ALS TDI in honor of the great volunteer work being done by Scott Cameron ,Phil Green and the dedicated event committee.”

These critical funds support the Augie’s Quest Translational Research Center at ALS TDI which was established to better understand the mechanisms of how amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects the body and use the knowledge to develop new, more effective treatments for the disease. These funds are part of a larger $5.8 million grant from Augie’s Quest to ALS TDI through 2024 that was established to fund the discovery of new candidate drugs to slow, stop, or even reverse ALS disease progression.

The Cure ALS Golf Classic has raised more than $1 million for ALS research. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 15, 2020

ALS Community Comes Together in Unprecedented Fashion To Urge Congress To Pass Critical Access To Disability Benefits Bill

Twenty ALS Advocate Groups Coordinate to Attain More than 360 Co-Sponsors

in both the House and Senate

WASHINGTON – This week, twenty ALS advocacy groups collaborated together to thank the more than 360 Congressional members from across the aisle who have co-sponsored H.R. 1407 and S. 578, which would extend Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for patients living with ALS. The ALS community is now calling on Congress for swift passage of H.R. 1407 and S. 578.

The legislation was introduced 19 months ago, but the coordinated campaign among local, regional and national ALS organizations drove progress in the past six months to attain Congressional support. The passing of the bill will provide ALS patients and their loved ones access to SSDI benefits without having to wait five months from the time of diagnosis – an eternity within the two-to-five-year life expectancy of the disease.

The effort was sustained by members of the ALS community who worked with Congress, including:

• ALS Hope Foundation
• ALS ONE
• Answer ALS
• Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS
• Brigance Brigade
• Compassionate Care ALS
• Every90Minutes Foundation
• Everything ALS
• Hope Loves Company
• I AM ALS
• Joe Martin ALS Foundation
• Les Turner ALS Foundation
• A Life Story Foundation
• Live Like Lou
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• The Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS)
• The Project ALS Therapeutics Core at Columbia
• Team Stevens Nation
• Team Gleason
• Your ALS Guide

The ALS community is grateful to each Representative and Senator supporting H.R. 1407 and S.578 during this critical moment for our nation. ALS is an enormous financial burden and it is crucial those living with ALS and their families have as much support as possible. Now, more than ever, it’s imperative Congress passes H.R. 1407 and S. 578 and sends it to the President’s desk for his signature.

About ALS

ALS is a disease that attacks cells in the body that control movement. It makes the brain stop talking to the muscles, causing increased paralysis over time. Ultimately, ALS patients become prisoners within their own bodies: unable to eat, talk, breathe or move on their own. Their mind, however, often remains sharp so they are aware of what’s happening to them. ALS will affect 1 in 300 people in our lifetimes, and patients usually have no more than two to five years to live following diagnosis.

A Veteran Talks

“Hey kid, the good days will always outnumber the bad,” he said to me with a kind smile and wink. We were sitting side by side in the infusion center at Massachusetts General Hospital receiving therapy back in early 2002. Bill and I were on the same treatment rotation and had become friends. He had been front and center during the Cuban missile crisis in the Navy. I was currently on active duty as a Navy Nurse in CT. He was receiving the treatment appropriate for his neuro muscular condition. I was receiving it on the slim chance it would help, since one of my lab values was unusual when all other evidence pointed directly to the inescapable ALS. I was 26 years old, scared about the future, sitting next to my fellow veteran, and found his words were of great comfort to me.

Eighteen years later, I find that the good days have always outnumbered the bad and I suspect it will continue to be this way. The bad days have included the shattered dream of having children of my own as my siblings and friends continued “normal life.” The bad days also included the end of a young marriage in a bitter divorce. But, as you know, ALS is relentless in breaking bodies and hearts.

Today, we all find ourselves in unprecedented, turbulent times. This can be very unnerving, especially, when combined with ALS. My partner and I went into strict isolation in mid-March and spent three months together 24/7 as he was my only caregiver. We struggled through the social isolation, my guilt about depending completely on him and figured out how to settle into a new type of lifestyle. Our days now have a simpler rhythm. Watching flowers blossom is a big treat! The garage is not for my van anymore. It is set up for socializing with neighbors and family at a safe distance complete with a screen tent, carpet, lawn chairs and flower pots to line the entrance!

During these turbulent, changing times, I have some good news to share. My partner, Leif, and I got engaged a few weeks ago and are planning a very small ceremony October 3^rd! WHAT??  Who marries a 44 year old woman who has ALS? Evidently, Leif does. We have been living together for eight years and he figured if we could be together 24/7 for three months and still like each other, we might as well give marriage a shot.

I pray that as we all find new paths forward, excavating our former lives, positive things will surface. I am pleased to learn that ALS clinical trials have used the past few months to pivot how trials are run. They are now maximizing the use of video appointments to gather information and reduce in person visits. The field has also shifted to investigating breathing measurements that can be taken at home and doing safety labs locally. These changes bring the possibility of including more people in ALS trials by reducing some of the barriers.

We will all continue to have bad days. Life is just like that. My wish for you is that your good days always outnumber the bad. Keep your heads up and seek out the positive.

Sending my love from NH,

Ellen Corindia

3/13/15
Los Angeles, CA
ALS.net
BASH for Augie’s Quest
Photo Credit: Marvin Steindler/Steve Cohn Photography
© 2015 Steve Cohn Photography
www.stevecohnphotography.com
(310) 277-2054

If you or someone you know has ALS and is currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your healthcare provider immediately.  

With the recent assignation of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, we are sharing pertinent information with the ALS community to understand the risks and impact of SARS-CoV2. Please note that per the CDC, this is a rapidly evolving situation, and the CDC will continue to share updates daily.

While there is currently no evidence to show that patients with ALS are uniquely sensitive to the virus, individuals with respiratory health issues, chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or lung disease, and those who are elderly may be at a higher risk for experiencing COVID-19 severely.

Prevention & Management: 

In addition to following the CDC recommendations for the prevention and management of COVID-19, we recommend asking your ALS clinic care team whether they recommend an in person or tele-visit. You may also find the Les Turner ALS Foundation’s care recommendations for respiratory issues helpful.

The ALS Association has published  “ Tips to Help the ALS Community Plan Ahead During the COVID-19 Pandemic”  developed for people with ALS and their families, to help them advocate effectively with healthcare providers, healthcare facilities, emergency medical technicians and medical transport systems to ensure fair and appropriate treatment during the COVID crisis.

Information Related to Clinical Trials:

If you are currently participating in a clinical trial, contact your trial care team to determine if there are any changes to protocol or timeline.

In an Emergency Situation:

If you are in need of assistance from an emergency medical technician (EMT) please reference this document from I AM ALS for helpful information to provide to them and emergency room staff regarding additional precautions to take when caring for ALS patients.

The CDC and other health professionals are learning more about COVID-19 every day. While the possibility of contracting a contagious disease is scary, it is important to stay calm and follow recommended prevention and management strategies. Please continue to check the CDC’s website for the most up to date information about COVID-19 in the US.

Support Resources

Augie’s Quest, Team Gleason, Les Turner ALS Foundation, I AM ALS, LiveLikeLou, Hope Loves Company, The Joe Martin ALS Foundation, The Brigance Brigade Foundation and others across the ALS community are banding together to support ALS families during this time. We have compiled a list of resources that are providing assistance to families with ALS who are affected by COVID-19. 

Financial Assistance & Volunteer Support:

• The Healthwell Foundation is offering a small grant to help people cover costs related to COVID-19 such as delivery of food, medications, transportation and telehealth visits. Check out the eligibility details here and call (800) 675-8416 to apply over the phone.
• The Susie Foundation in Connecticut has introduced a Good Neighbors program that will connect families affected by ALS with volunteers who will run 1-2 critical errands for them per week. They are also repurposing their Flex Grant program to provide emergency funding to families who are struggling with unexpected expenses due to the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about their programs and how to apply here. 
• The Les Turner ALS Foundation in the Chicagoland area is providing emergency relief funding. Learn more here. 
• The LiveLikeLou Foundation has launched the Great LiveLikeLou Outdoor Clean-Up for ALS Families to match ALS Families with Phi Delts to offer volunteer support to ONLY 1) outdoor projects and chores, 2) no personal contact and 3) CDC-allowable interactions.  This is a “one-time” or “occasional” support for ALS Families so that the college students in particular can meet their families’ expectations for support.

Equipment:

• Your ALS Guide is donating 5,000 FDA-approved surgical masks to people living with ALS, caregivers, and ALS professionals in the United States. People can request masks at Masks for the ALS Community and they will be mailed out within 48 hours.
• Every 90 Minutes, Team Gleason and Evergreen Circuits are providing ventilator filters from Philips Respironics to ALS patients who are unable to get it through a DME supplier. Click here to apply. 
• Team Gleason is continuing to provide all of its services to people living with ALS, with the exception of adventures which have been suspended. Learn about how they may be able to help you and apply for assistance here. 
• Acknowledging that there may be a shortage of some supplies, Respiratory Quality Services researched ways to clean your breathing device accessories. You can read them here. Be sure to consult with your Respiratory Therapist on these guidelines.

Veterans:

• The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has helpful information on COVID-19 resources for veterans with ALS here.

Virtual Engagement:

• Hope Loves Company is going virtual! Check out their site for updates on online activities and their upcoming Pen Pal program for children, teens and adults. 
• Team Gleason and The Center for Medicare Advocacy will be hosting a webinar to address benefits in the rapidly changing Medicare environment. Stay tuned for the scheduled date.
• The Brigance Brigade Foundation (BBF) will soon launch the BBF Caregiver Club, which will be a virtual meetup of caregivers of people living with ALS (CALS). The Caregiver Club will encourage CALS to set aside time to practice self-care through guided activities such as art, journaling, meditation, and exercise. Email Amy Mullan at amullan@brigancebrigade.org to learn more and sign up.

Good News:

• Remind yourself about the incredible good in this world by following these accounts on social media:
  • Read Good News Network online and/or follow them on Facebook or Twitter
  • Follow Good News Movement on Instagram
  • Read Upworthy online and/or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

Know of a resource to support people affected by COVID-19 that we missed? Email us at AQ@augiesquest.org and we will include it once vetted.