Augie and Lynn's Open Road
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Interview (7:41)
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Failure (1:18)
Interview Excerpt -
Giving Back (1:32)
Interview Excerpt
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INTERVIEWED BY:
Aussie Girls
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INTERVIEW LOCATION:
Corona del Mar, CA
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AIRED ON:
Public Television: Season Six
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ON DVD:
AUGIE AND LYNN NIETO
Entrepreneur
Augie's Quest
INTERESTS:
Entrepreneurship Non-Profit Organizations Sports
THEMES DISCUSSED:
Acceptance Doubt Failure Family Fear Risk Self-Reflection Values
TAGS:
action, anger, antidepressants, body, brain, denial, depression, disability, exercise, fitness, heart, illness, insecurity, life, living, lou gehrig's disease, medication, muscular dystrophy, parents, vulnerable
BIOGRAPHY:
Augie Nieto grew up recognizing the value in hard work. Augie's father had to work hard at his job at an oil field to pay for his six brothers and sisters. Augie saw his father's frustration with his job and didn't want to follow his path. At age 19, Augie found his passion in fitness and exercise. He loved working out and helping others in their fitness and at age 20, started LifeCycle, Inc., which later became Life Fitness, an extremely successful fitness equipment manufacturer. In 2005, he was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Soon after, he began a research foundation for ALS, Augie's Quest. Although ALS has caused Augie's muscles to deteriorate, inhibiting his speech and ability to walk, he has maintained a great spirit and is an inspiration to people everywhere. To date, Augie's Quest has raised over $19 million for ALS research.
