If you meet Augie Nieto, you can’t help but walk away impressed and motivated. Nieto was the founder of Life Fitness, but in March 2005, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.



Augie Nieto, founder of Life Fitness, is handed the Stanley Cup by Chris Osgood. (Bill Wellman/HHOF)


Nieto and his wife Lynne have made it their life’s work to raise awareness and funding for research into ALS. The Nieto’s are co-chairs of the ALS division of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. To date, “Augie’s Quest” has raised over $15 million toward research into finding a cure for ALS.



While writing his second book, “Reciprocity Incorporated,” Nieto interviewed Wings owner Mike Ilitch about being a highly successful entrepreneur who finds it important to give back to his community. In short order, Nieto and Ilitch became great friends, so much so in fact, that Mr. Ilitch donated $250,000 to “Augie’s Quest” and promised that, if his Red Wings won the Stanley Cup, he’d have the championship trophy brought to the Nietos’ Southern California home.



The Stanley Cup, along with Osgood, arrived at the Nieto residence in Corona Del Mar. An assistant to Nieto suggested, “You’ve got a big, heavy case there. You should use the lift to get up to where Augie is.” Unfortunately, once the Stanley Cup and its case, Osgood and a few other people got into the lift, it got stuck, and it was almost ten minutes before the doors could be pried open. No harm done, the Stanley Cup delegation poured out and proceeded to take the stairs up to visit Nieto.



Nieto spent time examining Lord Stanley’s Cup, and although his once formidable strength now eludes him, the Cup was placed on his lap, bringing a magnificent and emotional smile to his face. ALS has caused his speech to be slurred, and at times, difficult to understand, but after briefly talking hockey with Osgood, he left those in attendance with a thought: “What I learned later in my career is that it is not the quantity but the quality of time you spend that matters.” “Augie’s Quest” can be visited at www.augiesquest.org.