Augie’s Quest BASH Raises $623,555 for ALS Research

SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, 2009 — The Fourth Annual Bash for Augie’s Quest on March 18, held at the San Francisco Marriott, raised $623,555 to help fund research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Sara Bareilles performs at the Fourth Annual Bash for Augie's Quest.

Hosted by Access Hollywood anchor Nancy O’Dell, the evening’s entertainment featured two-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles, comedian John Pinette and singer John Ondrasik.

Held in conjunction with the 28th Annual International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association’s International Convention and Trade Show, the Bash was co-sponsored by several leading businesses, including The Atlantic Club, Fitness World, Health Club Media Network, Hemelgarn Racing, LA Fitness and Panda Express. Over the past four years, the BASH has raised a record $7 million, and is the largest single-day event for ALS research in the world.

In a moving tribute to a key figure in ALS research, an award was posthumously given during the BASH to Sean Scott, the president of ALS TDI, who died from ALS on Feb. 9. Sean’s widow, Nancy Scott, accepted the award.

“We had an exceptionally successful, moving evening,” Augie Nieto said of the Bash. “$623,555 is a significant amount that can fund vital scientific research.”

Nieto, 50, received a diagnosis of ALS in March 2005. He is the former CEO of Life Fitness, and currently serves as the chairman of Octane Fitness. Nieto is also the chief inspiration officer for MDA’s Augie’s Quest. He and his wife, Lynne, serve as co-chairpersons of MDA’s ALS Division.

ALS destroys the nerve cells controlling muscles, ultimately causing complete paralysis while leaving mental function intact. Survival is typically two to five years after diagnosis. The cause of ALS isn’t fully understood, and no cure exists.

To date, the Augie’s Quest campaign has raised nearly $19 million for ALS research, and has made significant advancements in identifying the genes and proteins that are the main players in the disease pathogenesis of ALS.

About Augie's Quest

Augie’s Quest, MDA’s ALS research initiative, is an aggressive, cure-driven effort singularly focused on finding treatments and cures for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). The devastating neuromuscular disease affects more than 30,000 Americans. Fitness pioneer Augie Nieto started Augie's Quest (www.augiesquest.org) in conjunction with MDA's ALS Division after his ALS diagnosis in March 2005.

About MDA

MDA (www.mda.org) is the world's largest provider of ALS services and the largest contributor to ALS research. Over the years, it has expended almost $250 million in this effort, operating 220 disease clinics across the United States, including 36 ALS-specific research and care centers.