[BobbyB]

Nietos go another round against ALS
Local couple will serve a second year as co-leaders of group that fights Lou Gehrig's disease.
By BLYTHE BERNHARD
The Orange County Register
A Corona del Mar couple will serve a second year as leaders of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's ALS Division, the association announced today.

Augie and Lynne Nieto have worked to raise awareness and research money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, since Augie's diagnosis in March 2005. The couple appeared in commercials and other public appearances, including the MDA telethon, throughout the year.

Fitness mogul Augie Nieto, 48, co-founded Lifecycle Inc. while a student at Claremont McKenna College in the late 1970s. The company eventually became Life Fitness, one of the world's largest fitness-equipment makers.

Nieto's fund, "Augie's Quest" has raised more than $7 million for ALS research. The money has gone to research programs at UC Irvine and the ALS Therapy Development Institute in Massachusetts.

The progressive, fatal disease attacks nerve cells and gradually causes complete paralysis.

For more information, visit www.als-mda.org or www.augiesquest.org

Contact the writer: 714-796-6880 or bbernhard@ocregister.com