Augie In Action! Augie In Action! - Ihrsa

Some of his friends and colleagues say that Augie, 50, is busier now
than he was when he headed up Life Fitness. In addition to his treasured
time with family, he spends 30 hours a week on AQ, and another 20 hours
on his other commitments, e.g., as the chairman of Octane Fitness and
board member of several firms. He travels at least 10 days a month; last
year, his trips encompassed an interview on the Today Show and the
launch of his book, in New York City, with his coauthor, Pearson. He’s
appeared on the cover of Parade magazine and been featured in the Wall
Street Journal and on Jerry Lewis’ MDA telethon.
Lynne, his wife of 12 years and steady companion during this
challenging journey, has been there for each step of Augie’s experience.
She was there, he says, during the “hazy, scary time” of diagnosis, depression,
and suicide attempt, and, later, when he emerged on the other side with a
renewed and enlightened sense of purpose.
“The Quest gives Augie a reason to get up every day,” Lynne says
earnestly. “It keeps him energized, his brain active, his ideas moving at
warp speed. I believe that, in many ways, it saves his life.”
And that—saving lives—is why Augie has embarked on this, his most
recent, battle. That’s why he’s drawn the line in the sand.
Today, he’s consigned to a wheelchair, and his speech is difficult and
exhausting. But that doesn’t slow him down. “As I lose the ability to move
my body,” he tells me, “I find new ways to perform old tasks. I redefine
normal every day.”
Living in a world where normal is, by any other standard, extraordinary,
Augie remains relentless in his pursuit of a cure. All of those who know him,
all of those who have been inspired by him, and all of those whose ALS
research has been facilitated by his remarkable efforts… are convinced
that he’s already succeeded. —|
– Stephen Wallenfels, stevewall@charter.net
The Atlantic Club champions Augie’s Quest
We’ve always been
determined to find a cure
for ALS, but Augie, with
his business acumen… has
allowed us to intensify that
focus, and begin making
some important progress
towards finding a cure.
“
”
www.ihrsa.org | MARCH 2008 | Club Business International 67