For Immediate Release
Event to fund breakthrough research and treatments, supporting Augie’s Quest and a new study on
ALS occurrences among elite athletes, military personnel, and first responders.
SEATTLE (July 30, 2026) – Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, a nonprofit that funds innovative ALS research and treatment advances for people affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is hosting its 15th annual Cure ALS Golf Classic and Helicopter Golf Ball Drop on September 3, 2026, at The Golf Club at Newcastle in Newcastle, Washington. Proceeds will support promising research and treatments with the potential to change lives.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects one in 400 people during their lifetime. About 5,000 people are newly diagnosed each year, with the average life expectancy after diagnosis currently being three to five years.
ALS Incidence Rate is Higher Among Elite Athletes, Military Personnel, and First Responders
Recent ALS data shows higher incidence among elite athletes, military personnel, and first responders, who are about 25% more likely to be diagnosed. In collaboration with Answer ALS and the ALS Therapy Development Institute, Augie’s Quest created Champion Insights, a new research initiative that uses remote technology to collect biological and clinical data from participants at home. This model broadens participation and supports research into lipid metabolism, genetics, and ALS in higher-risk groups. Findings will be added to Answer ALS’s Neuromine Data Portal, expanding global research with biological, clinical, and genetic information. The study aims to enroll 300 participants and is now enrolling people living with ALS who were college or professional athletes, served in the military, or worked as a first responder. To learn more, visit: Champion Insights (champion.als.net).
The initiative’s first participant is Washington’s own Steve Gleason, a former NFL athlete and Washington State Cougar. Gleason, who founded Answer ALS to accelerate the discovery of treatments and cures for ALS, explains the importance of Champion Insights “ALS requires fundamentally rethinking how research is done. By empowering people to conveniently participate from home, Champion Insights can hopefully unravel why elite athletes and high performers are disproportionately impacted by this disease.”
Augie’s Quest co-founder Augie Nieto, the fitness entrepreneur behind Lifecycle, Life Fitness, and Octane Fitness, was diagnosed with ALS in 2005 and died in March 2023. Lifelong athlete Phil Green, who played on the University of Washington football team during its 1991 Rose Bowl championship season, was diagnosed with ALS in 2018 and died on July 19, 2025. Green advocated for ALS research, strongly supported Augie’s Quest and the Golf Classic, and remained hopeful that a cure would be found in time.
Helicopter Golf Ball Drop and Golf Tournament
During the Helicopter Golf Ball Drop, up to 200 numbered golf balls will be released at once from a helicopter hovering up to 50 feet above the course’s chipping green. The ball that lands closest to the hole—or in the hole—wins a golf experience for two at Pebble Beach Golf Links & Spyglass Hill Golf Course, including one-night at The Inn at Spanish Bay.
The public can support ALS research by joining the golf tournament or entering the golf ball drop. Golf ball drop entries are $100 each and can be purchased until 9 pm PST on September 2nd here. Each purchaser receives one numbered ball, with a maximum of 200 entries available. Golf tournament foursomes can be purchased at augiesquest.org.
Participating golfers will have the opportunity to win a new car, donated by Lee Johnson Chevrolet, by hitting a hole-in-one on a designated hole of the tournament’s courses. Lee Johnson Chevrolet’s support of Augie’s Quest is deeply personal and focuses on honoring the local legacy of individuals lost to ALS, specifically Phil Green and Augie Nieto, as well as all other community members lost to ALS.
About Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS
Founded in 2005 by Augie Nieto and Shannon Shryne, Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS funds innovative research and treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) across the United States. The nonprofit works to accelerate breakthroughs, support people living with ALS, and ultimately find a cure. Learn more at augiesquest.org.
