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Giving Tuesday

By Champions

“ALS isn’t an incurable disease; it is an underfunded one. This is a message you’ve heard Lynne and I share countless times, and one that drives our passion and tireless work for this cause.

Yet, never has it been more pressing, as we now have a promising drug on the near horizon that could slow the progression of the disease. The only thing standing in our way — the urgent funds needed to drive this, and other potential treatments and cures, across the finish line and into the marketplace to benefit so many people living with ALS today.

If you’ve ever wondered what our daily quest to #EndALS looks like, whether in the ALS Therapy Development Institute lab or behind the scenes of our innovative approach to ALS, we captured that story of our progress in a brief, easy-to-digest (and dare I say, “hip & fun”) explainer video.

Check it out!

We asked Natalie Morales, of NBC/Access Hollywood and our 2017 Champion for ALS Award Winner to lend her signature voice to the piece and Natalie graciously agreed, delivering a passionate and informed message about our cause. You’ll quickly see how we put every donation to work and why every gift is so important to our life-changing research.

Please share this video on your social channels and let your family, friends and colleagues know what is possible when you give to Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS.”

-Augie Nieto

Hundreds of Team Quest4ALS Runners & Fitness Clubs Raise More Than $1 Million to End ALS

By Champions

Fundraising Efforts Drive Critical ALS Research for Augie’s Quest Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series Events in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Denver and Las Vegas

 

Orange County, November 14, 2017 – Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS today celebrates the achievements of 303 runners, the many champions living with ALS, a team of researchers, 560-plus fundraisers and key health and fitness clubs – its Team Quest4ALS. Over 13 months, the group successfully participated in several Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series events, helping to drive awareness, advance funding for critical research, and race to find an ultimate cure for ALS.

Team Quest4ALS has raised $1,030,869 to defeat the disease through Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series events in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Denver and Las Vegas. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS isn’t an incurable disease, it is only underfunded. Every dollar raised from the runners supports innovative research toward effective treatments and cures through Augie’s Quest and the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI). Team Quest4ALS local results include:

  • Brooklyn Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon with 152 runners raising $417,386
  • Philadelphia Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon ,10k and 5k with 72 runners raising $352,000
  • Denver Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon with 31 runners raising $91,000
  • And just this weekend for the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Half & 10k with 52 runners raising $179,000

The next Team Quest4ALS race is the New Orleans Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon on March 3-4, 2018. Check out www.teamquest4als.org to register and join the race to find a cure.

 

“Several of our health and fitness clubs proudly joined Team Quest4ALS, and we continue to add more to our Endurance Program, including Greenwood Athletic & Tennis Club, ClubSport, Vida Fitness, Las Vegas Athletic Club, River Valley Club as well as well as our longtime supporters, The Atlantic Club and Newtown Athletic Club,” says Kevin McHugh, who ran in all four Team Quest4ALS events, and is COO, The Atlantic Club.

The driving force behind the success of Team Quest4ALS are the many runners and champions living with ALS – from Philadelphia’s Matt Bellina, a 32-year-old husband, father to three boys and Navy veteran diagnosed with ALS in his late 20’s who lead a running team including his wife Caitlin and kicked off the ½ Marathon at the starting line; or researchers Fernando Viero, M.D., and Alex Calo, who fundraise and run with Team Quest4ALS while making strides every day in the lab at the ALS Therapy Development Institute in Cambridge, MA; to Claire Craven, who went far out of her comfort zone to train, walk and complete all four of the 1/2 marathon races to honor her husband, Eric, who is a board member at ALS TDI and lives with ALS.

“Although, we have now completed our initial four races and raised over $1,000,000, it is time to review our success and see how we can involve even more of our Clubs and members in Team Quest4ALS in 2018,” adds McHugh. “We are committed to generating the funds necessary to bring AT-1501, and other promising treatments, to the market for those in need. In racing and raising money, most importantly, we are providing HOPE for those with ALS!”

                                                                                    

Augie’s Quest Honors Natalie Morales as the National Nonprofit’s 2017 Champion for ALS

By Champions

12th Annual Tradition of Hope Gala Showcased the Access Hollywood/NBC Anchor’s Decade-Long Commitment to Raise Awareness and Funds to Create a Future without ALS

Orange County, Oct. 30, 2017 – Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS hosted its 12th annual Tradition of Hope Gala over the weekend at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, celebrating its many donors dedicated to funding cutting edge research for effective treatments and an ultimate cure for ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Core to the evening’s event, the nonprofit awarded two national advocates and leaders with its most prestigious honors. First, presenting Matthew Stewart, Co-Founder and CEO of National Services Group with the Augie’s Quest Founder’s Award and then, awarding Natalie Morales, Access Hollywood Co-host and NBC’s West Coast anchor, its Augie’s Quest Champion for ALS Award. Masters of Ceremonies Jann Carl and Musical Host David Foster also joined Augie’s Quest to help celebrate and entertain the 400 attendees, who raised an incredible $1,092,217 for ALS research during the special evening.

“Augie’s Quest has been so lucky to have a power house like Natalie Morales in our corner, sharing our story whenever she can, emphasizing the importance of innovative research and essential funding, and championing our cause to end ALS,” said Augie Nieto, Chief Inspiration Officer and Co-Founder, Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS and Chairman, ALS Therapy Development Institute. “Her passion, dedication and unique voice are paying off, as is the commitment of so many others in our Augie’s Quest family – as we know ALS it isn’t an incurable disease, it is only underfunded. And we’re making great progress in taking on ALS thanks to people like Natalie and Matt, our very special honorees this year!”

“I want to echo a mantra I’ve heard over the years here — they may call ALS Lou Gehrig’s Disease, but I’m sure we’ll soon call it Augie Nieto’s Cure,” added Natalie Morales during her remarks accepting the Augie’s Quest Champion for ALS award.

 

 

ALS won’t stop and neither will Augie’s Quest

Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS
PO Box #9886
Denver, CO 80209

T: 949-506-1007
E: AQ@augiesquest.org

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