"Augie Nieto's got a story to tell you,
Though it's hard to hear him speak.
He caught Lou Gehrig rounding third one day,
Now he's happy as he'll ever be...
....Augie's found what I've been looking for."
-lyrics by Jon Ondrasik, Five for Fighting
One of Brent's good friends from business has an inspiring story. Augie Nieto, is the owner of Life Fitness, a company he founded and built into a sucessful empire in the fitness world . But five years ago, the driven and handsome Augie Nieto, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs disease.
This picture is Augie in good health; today his mind is strong but his body has been ravaged. He can only speak through a computer.
It has completely changed the lives of the Nieto family. His wife, Lynn, has been his rock! Initially Augie struggled and even considered taking his life. But, he rallied and has absolutely "fought a good fight" against ALS. Augie has raised millions of dollars for research that will hopefully one day find a cure for this terminal disease. His fundraising efforts are like everything Augie does: extraordinary! We've attended the "Augie's Quest" bash every year (it's been in San Diego, San Francisco, and Las Vegas).
At the last "Augie's Quest" Bash (held in the spring every year) the lead singer in Five for Fighting, Jon Ondrasik, who is a friend of the Nieto's, performed a song that he had written especially for Augie. We loved the song but it hasn't been available until the group put out their new album, Slice, released last week. The lyrics are touching; especially if you know the Nieto family!
ALS has changed Augie! Despite his success in the business world he has said that he'd like to be remembered as "a good husband and father, a loyal friend and someone who can be counted on to do the right thing." I love Augie for showing all of us that in the face of tragedy, here is a man who chooses to say: "I can look at the ocean and say I'm the luckiest man in the world." Check out the song on itunes: it's hard to hear it and not be moved!
