FITNESS
INDUSTRY LEADER AND SOUTH CAROLINA TEEN
TO BE FEATURED IN PARADE MAGAZINE COVER
STORY ON MDA
TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 31, 2006 –
Muscular Dystrophy Association ALS Division
Chairperson Augie Nieto, 48, of Corona
del Mar, Calif. and MDA
National Goodwill Ambassador Luke Christie,
13, of Due West will grace the cover
of the Labor Day weekend issue of PARADE,
the popular Sunday magazine featured
in newspapers nationwide.
In the past year, Nieto, who received
a diagnosis of amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s
disease) in March 2005, has launched
an ALS campaign with MDA called Augie’s
Quest, which has raised more than $4
million to benefit MDA’s ALS research
program.
As MDA’s national ambassador,
Luke travels the country to represent
the Association and those it serves
at fund-raisers and sponsor events.
He is also featured in nationally distributed
public services messages and other MDA
materials.
Luke and Nieto developed a close relationship
when they met at an MDA Board meeting
in Hilton Head, S.C., in March. Both
are devoted to eradicating neuromuscular
diseases affecting children and adults,
and will appear live on the Telethon
Sept. 3-4.
Nieto serves as co-chair of MDA’s
ALS Division with his wife, Lynne. They
help raise awareness through public
appearances, speaking engagements, media
interviews and public service announcements.
Augie also serves MDA as a national
vice president.
He is the co-founder and former president
of Life Fitness, and now chairman of
Octane Fitness.
Luke has type
2 spinal muscular atrophy, a progressive
motor neuron disease that causes weakness
in the arms, legs and torso, and he
uses a power wheelchair. He has two
older brothers that are not affected.
SMA is among over 40 neuromuscular diseases
covered by MDA.
The PARADE story will also highlight
recent MDA research progress, including
the first U.S. gene
therapy trial for Duchenne
muscular dystrophy (DMD), which began
in March. In addition, Myozyme,
a lifesaving treatment for Pompe’s
disease was approved by the FDA this
year; it was developed by Genzyme Corp.
with MDA’s assistance.
PARADE, which has some 75 million readers
and is distributed by more than 340
Sunday newspapers in the United States,
has featured MDA in Labor Day weekend
cover stories for two decades.
“We’re proud to have been
associated with MDA for so many years,”
said PARADE’s Chairman and CEO
Walter Anderson. “MDA provides
help for people living with neuromuscular
diseases as well as hope for a brighter
future.” Anderson also serves
as an MDA National Vice President.
Originating from the South Coast Hotel
in Las Vegas, the MDA Telethon will
begin at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday, Sept. 3,
and run for 21½ hours.
MDA is a voluntary health agency working
to defeat neuromuscular
diseases through programs of worldwide
research, comprehensive services,
and far-reaching professional and public
health education.
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