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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.
Augie and Lynne are honored to be working with PCH films and CK&D to capture a new documentary titled "Augie" to be released in late 2017.
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July 15 WINDY CITY SWEATOUT Invites Cyclers to Take their Class Outside to End ALS
Chicago, June 27, 2017 – During July’s upcoming Windy City Smokeout, Chicago BBQ, beer and music lovers alike will now add “cycling for an ALS cure” to the festival agenda. Dubbed the Windy City Sweatout, the 90-minute outdoor cycle class and fundraiser gives festival goers another way to enjoy the popular weekend festivities, with an added feel-good benefit that combines a unique workout and give-back experience.
Every 90 minutes someone in the country is diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS, a neuro-degenerative disease that steals people’s muscles, and robs them of every benefit exercise provides. Most people with ALS survive 2-5 years after their first symptoms, with no known cure. However, ALS is not an incurable disease; it is an underfunded one.
It’s a message and cause Fitness Formula Clubs (FFC) and Life Fitness believe in. They’ve teamed together during the Windy City Smokeout to engage festival-goers and Chicago fitness enthusiasts in support of this special ride for a cure and are working to raise funds and awareness to benefit Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS.
The Windy City Sweatout will take place Saturday, July 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the Windy City Smokeout festival grounds at 560 W. Grand Ave., Chicago. Interested riders are encouraged to reserve their bikes, as registration is now open, with space for the class taught by FFC’s top cycling instructors limited to only 70 spots. All Windy City Sweatout participants agree to a minimum $200 donation to Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS for the class, and in return will also gain access to the Windy City Smokeout on Saturday, July 15 along with other incentives and prizes. Learn more at www.als.net/sweat.
Every dollar raised via the Windy City Sweatout benefits Augie’s Quest, the ALS research initiative led by Augie and Lynne Nieto on behalf of the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) in Cambridge, Mass. Augie Nieto is the successful fitness industry mogul and founder behind Lifecycle (exercise recumbent bikes) and Life Fitness, now the world’s leading fitness equipment manufacturer, based here in Chicago. Augie was also diagnosed in 2005 and has lived with ALS for 12 years.
“Efforts like the Windy City Sweatout help us move one step closer to a world where effective treatments – and even a cure – for ALS are within reach,” says Augie Nieto, Chief Inspiration Officer, Augie’s Quest and Chairman, ALS Therapy Development Institute. “Every participant in this unique 90-minute class is a champion, fundraising and sweating it out to improve the health of so many people affected by ALS. We’re thrilled FFC, Life Fitness and Windy City Smokeout agreed to join our incredible quest to end ALS.”
ALS TDI is the world’s first non-profit biotech with more than 30 scientists singularly focused on finding a cure for ALS. The fitness enthusiasts participating in Windy City Sweatout will help make it possible for ALS TDI to develop a promising new drug that could forever change the course of ALS. It’s called AT-1501 and is currently in the early stages of clinical trials, but needs additional investments to bring it fully to market.
“I’ve known Augie for over 30 years. Our relationship started in the early 80’s when we purchased equipment and make deals with a handshake. Today we are dear friends and Fitness Formula Clubs is honored to be part of Augie’s Quest to find a cure for ALS,” said Gale Landers, Founder and CEO of Fitness Formula Clubs.
“Life Fitness is proud to be a long-time partner of Augie’s Quest and the fight against ALS in support of our founder Augie Nieto,” said Tim McCarthy, Life Fitness VP of Sales, Americas. “We’re excited to provide bikes for the Windy City Sweatout so Chicagoans can join the fight.”
About Windy City Smokeout
Windy City Smokeout, the premier BBQ, craft beer and country music festival, hosted by popular Chicago restaurant, Bub City, and ACM award-winning, Joe’s Bar, will return to Chicago on July 14 – 16 for the fifth consecutive year. Located on Grand Avenue near the Chicago River, the weekend-long festival features the best BBQ and craft beer from around the nation plus live performances from over 30 of country music’s biggest names and up-and-coming talent. This year’s delicious BBQ lineup will include 17th Street BBQ, The Salt Lick BBQ and Pappy’s Smokehouse and the award-winning music lineup will include headliners Jake Owen, Kip Moore and Lee Brice plus Luke Combs, Jana Kramer, Brandy Clark and more. In May 2017, the festival was nominated for “Festival of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music and Ed Warm, head of talent for the festival, was nominated for “Promoter of the Year”.
About Fitness Formula Clubs
Established in 1984 by Founder and CEO Gale Landers, FFC owns and operates upscale, mid and large size multi-use health, sports, fitness and spa centers in the Chicago area. The company also provides corporate wellness programs, health and nutrition education, the healthy lifestyle CONNECTIONS magazine, signature group exercise programs and numerous individual and group training initiatives.
Each Chicagoland location is dedicated to supporting the local community and equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and weight training equipment, signature group exercise classes, personal training, nutrition counseling, spa services, massage therapy, and many customized fitness programs.
FFC is recognized by the fitness industry for creating a distinct member experience – though our clubs offer state-of-the-art amenities and services, the member experience is what differentiates our “home away from home” oases for fitness lovers.
FFC’s relentless pursuit to exceed member expectations and employ the friendliest, most-qualified and engaged staff teams is fundamental to the DNA of FFC. This dedication to quality and community is apparent whether you are being greeted at the front desk by name, receiving your new member fitness consultation, enjoying a spa treatment, or receiving nutrition therapy services with a registered dietitian. For more information, please visit www.ffc.com.
About Life Fitness
Life Fitness is the global leader in commercial fitness equipment and game tables and furnishings. The company manufactures and sells its strength and cardiovascular equipment, productive well-being equipment, billiards tables and accessories, and game room furniture under the brand names Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group, SCIFIT, InMovement and Brunswick Billiards. Its equipment is distributed to 166 countries. Headquartered outside Chicago, in Rosemont, Ill., Life Fitness is a division of Brunswick Corporation.
About Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS
Augie’s Quest is dedicated to finding treatments and cures for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and directly funds the ALS Therapy Development Institute, the world’s foremost drug discovery center focused solely on finding a cure for ALS. For more information, please visit www.augiesquest.org.
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