Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a disorder that affects that function of the nerves and muscles. The disease typically progresses quickly, making it harder and harder for those who are affected to go about doing their normal things — walking, breathing, eating, etc. It also robs them of all of the benefits that come from exercising and being active.
The fitness industry doesn’t want that to be the reality for those who suffer from the disease, so they’ve implemented many fundraising initiatives to find the underlying cause of the disease.
The fitness industry raised $3.5 million last year, and $35 million since beginning the challenge they chose to take on: Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS. Different fitness programs implemented different campaigns to help raise money for the cause, and every dollar raised went directly to Augie’s Quest, which is “the ALS research initiative led by Augie and Lynne Nieto on behalf of the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.”
Augie’s Quest also notes that it is the world’s first non-profit biotech with more than 30 scientists singularly focused on finding a cure for ALS.
These fundraising efforts have helped make it possible for ALS Therapy Development Institute to develop a new drug, AT-1501, that “could forever change the course of ALS.” The drug is currently in early stages of clinical trials and needs additional investments before becoming available on the market.
Augie Nieto is the founder of Life Fitness and is passionate about exercise. He was diagnosed with ALS nearly 12 years ago, and is dedicated to finding treatments and cures for ALS.
Club Solutions wants to help. That’s why our Editor, Rachel Zabonick, along with people from across the U.S., are participating in the Las Vegas Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon. The participants are running on behalf of Team Quest4ALS, with a mission to find a cure.
You don’t have to lace up the running shoes to help. You can help from wherever you are. Please consider making a contribution to support the quest for a cure. You can help Rachel reach her fundraising goal at this link: https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/930586.
In addition to the Las Vegas Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon, Team Quest4ALS is also hosting fundraising races in Philadelphia and Denver. For more information on joining as an individual or team, click here.
Photo credit: 3/10/17, Los Angeles, CA, 12th Annual Bash for Augie’s Quest. Photo by: Steve Cohn Photography.
