‘AUGIE’S QUEST’ BOOK GOES PUBLIC
NOVEMBER 13
TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 6, 2007 – Fitness pioneer Augie Nieto’s autobiography, “Augie’s Quest: One Man’s Journey from Success to Significance,” will be released Nov. 13 by publisher Bloomsbury USA.
The first book by Nieto, 49, of Corona Del Mar, Calif., “Augie’s Quest” recounts the inspirational story of his journey from success as a fitness entrepreneur at the top of his game, to becoming depressed and suicidal over his diagnosis with ALS, and on through his emotional renaissance as a business-savvy strategist in the fight to conquer amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease).
“The Muscular Dystrophy Association couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated, more dynamic, more inspired partner in the war against ALS than Augie Nieto,” said MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis. “You can’t read his book and not come away with a sense of the limitless spirit and determination that has guided him in helping to drive MDA’s ALS research to a whole new level.”
As co-founder and former president of Life Fitness, and current chairman of Octane Fitness, Nieto has been a pioneer and leader in the fitness industry for nearly three decades. After receiving a diagnosis of ALS in March 2005, Nieto became determined to apply his successful entrepreneurial strategies to medical research and development, creating a new approach to the search for ALS treatments and a cure.
Nieto and his wife, Lynne, serve as co-chairs of MDA’s ALS Division, helping to raise awareness of the disease and MDA’s services through public speaking engagements and media interviews. They spearhead and generate ongoing support for MDA’s fast-track ALS research initiative, which is called Augie’s Quest.
“Augie’s Quest: One Man’s Journey” was co-written with author T.R. Pearson and features a forward by best-selling author Mitch Albom, who wrote “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “For One More Day.” It can be pre-ordered through Amazon.com.
About ALS
Every year, an estimated 5,000 Americans learn they have ALS, though its causes are still unknown and no cure exists. The devastating motor neuron disease causes the progressive weakening and ultimate paralysis of all the voluntary muscles in the body. Survival is typically three to five years from the time of diagnosis.
About Augie’s Quest
MDA’s Augie’s Quest ALS research initiative has raised more than $11 million to speed promising research seeking therapies to treat and cure ALS.
In 2006, the campaign enabled MDA to fund the first screening of the entire human genome in more than 1,200 people with ALS. Carried out by scientists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, the landmark project revealed new information, including identification of a number of genes that may increase susceptibility to ALS.
In January 2007, MDA entered into collaboration with the ALS Therapy Development Institute in Cambridge, Mass., launching the largest drug discovery project for the treatment of ALS in history. The three-year, $36 million project will attempt to identify biochemical targets and find drugs that stop the deadly progression of the disease. Some of the genes identified by TGen are among the targets of the ALS TDI drug discovery project.
About MDA
MDA has led the fight against ALS for more than 50 years, through its programs of worldwide research and comprehensive services. The Association operates 225 clinics that treat ALS and 37 MDA/ALS centers across the country. These state-of-the-art facilities are staffed by multidisciplinary teams of health professionals skilled in the diagnosis and medical management of the disease.
This year, MDA will spend some $13 million on ALS research and another $10 million for ALS services. Since its inception, MDA’s expenditures for ALS research and services have exceeded $210 million.
The Association’s programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors.
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