AUGIE & LUKE FEATURED ON NEW DirecTV SHOW

TUCSON, Ariz., April 7, 2008 – The friendship between Augie Nieto and former MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Luke Christie is the subject of a segment on "Hometown Heroes," a new show to be broadcast later this month on DirecTV.

The episode will air 9 p.m. Sunday, April 20 on DirecTV Channel 101. The show is hosted by Joan Lunden and is only on DirecTV's original programming channel, called The 101.

The segment will chronicle how Nieto, 50, found inspiration from Luke, a 14-year-old from Due West, S.C., while he was coming to terms with his diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). It will also highlight how the duo plays vital roles in MDA's fundraising and awareness efforts.

Nieto and his wife, Lynne, serve as co-chairpersons of MDA's ALS Division, and are the backbone of Augie's Quest, MDA's research fundraising initiative focused on stopping ALS. The Quest has raised more than $14 million for ALS research in just over two years.

Nieto is a prominent leader in the nation's fitness industry, and received a diagnosis of ALS in March 2005.

Luke, who has spinal muscular atrophy type 2, is currently serving as the Harley-Davidson MDA Goodwill Ambassador, a special role that will see him represent MDA during many events tied to the motor company's 105th Anniversary celebration. He served as MDA's National Goodwill Ambassador in 2006 and 2007.