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!”
