Augie’s Quest 15th Annual BASH event returns to San Diego

SOURCE: Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS

Nonprofit celebrates fitness industry commitment to finding a cure for ALS

San Diego, February 7, 2020 – Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS, a nonprofit committed to changing the experience of thousands living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by fast-tracking effective treatments and an ultimate cure, is celebrating their 15th BASH fundraiser by Rockin’ Through the Ages with the fitness industry on March 20. 

Over 800 guests are expected to attend the event, which is held in conjunction with the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association’s (IHRSA) International Tradeshow and Convention. The BASH represents an opportunity for the fitness industry to come together and celebrate advancements in ALS research, while reminding attendees of the critical hope their support offers for those affected by this disease.

“The fitness industry has made Augie’s Quest THEIR quest.  They’re focused on making our world healthier, and this passion for helping people has directly impacted every individual living with ALS,” said Augie Nieto, Co-Founder, Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS. “I’m proud to share the stage at this year’s BASH with the Chief Scientific Officer of the ALS Therapy Development Institute, Fernando Vieira, and fellow ALS Fighter Andrea Lytle Peet to share the incredible work we’re doing with the funds we’ve raised at the BASH.

Supporters of the event include IHRSA, Orangetheory Fitness, Jenny Craig, Newtown Athletic Club, The Atlantic Club, Zumba Fitness, Stone Creek Club & Spa, Club Automation, Crunch Fitness, Fitness Formula Clubs, Club Greenwood, Hemelgarn Racing, Las Vegas Athletic Clubs, North Castle Partners and Planet Fitness, as well as others. The event will be emcee’d by international Zumba Education Specialist Loretta Bates, with entertainment provided by Australian raised Toby Rand, who is currently starring as a lead, in the hit “Broadway” musical ROCKTOPIA who previously appeared on the CBS TV show Rockstar: Supernova with Tommy Lee, Jason Newstead, Gilby Clarke and Dave Navarro. The show was seen by over 20 million viewers each week and ended with RAND as runner-up and winning a signed record deal. 

Just last month, the ALS Therapy Development Institute announced the naming of the Augie’s Quest Translational Research Center which will help to strengthen its existing and future research efforts by aiming to dissect mechanisms of clinical ALS and use the knowledge to develop new, more powerful drug discovery platforms and facilitate more effective drug development in ALS. 

“In recent years, translational research has emerged as an increasingly important component of ALS TDI’s drug discovery,” says Fernando Vieira, Chief Scientific Officer, ALS TDI. “We owe much of our progress and ability to expand this transformative, essential research to Augie’s Quest. And, we are honored to celebrate this impact on our science with this special commendation.”

You can join the quest to end ALS at the 15th annual Bash by visiting augiesquest.org/bash. 

About Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS

Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS is a nonprofit committed to changing the experience of people living with ALS by fast-tracking cutting-edge research to advance effective treatments and an ultimate cure. The organization is galvanizing thousands to join this fight, confronting ALS in an entirely new way, and driving innovative research forward, and at an accelerated pace. We are working to bring an exciting treatment, AT-1501, and many others, to market as fast as we can via our research partners at the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Augie’s Quest was co-founded more than a decade ago by Augie Nieto, the successful fitness industry mogul behind Lifecycle and Life Fitness who was diagnosed with ALS in 2005 and whose life story was recently chronicled in the award-winning film, Augie. With Augie’s Quest, ALS doesn’t stand a fighting chance. Because ALS isn’t incurable, it’s only underfunded. Please join our quest at www.augiesquest.org.