Board member, Augie Nieto has been living with ALS for over 11 years and in October, we worked with his organization, Augie’s Quest to raise money for ALS research. We not only wanted to support Augie’s cause, but also honor VP of Operations Lauren Witsenburg who passed away in 2013, and our Jenny Craig employees and community members who have shared their experiences regarding ALS. Each Jenny Craig center and the corporate office set a donation goal, and we’re thrilled to report that we were able to raise over $75,000 to Augie’s Quest. All donations directly fund the ALS Development Institute, whose sole focus is finding a cure for ALS.

ALS, which is the abbreviation for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, affects nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, which leads to muscle weakness and eventual loss in control of muscle movement. 

Augie is also the subject of a documentary, titled “Augie.” Filmed by “Walk the Line” director James Keach, “Augie” follows Augie and his wife, Lynne, as they discuss living with ALS and fight to find a cure. With “Augie” having a successful run in the 2017 film festival circuit and set to premiere in theaters 2018, we are empowered to continue focusing on causes that are near and dear to our community. To find out more about ALS and ways to get involved, visit Augie’s Quest’s official website.

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http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html