My son took part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with his friends this week. He showed me his video and I asked what it was for. He said that he wasn’t sure. And then he remembered, “it’s for…ALS?”
I asked him if he knew what ALS was.
“A disease, right?” he answered.
This is what the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is about. To raise money and raise awareness. And though there are probably a lot of people who may not even understand why they are dumping buckets of ice water over their heads, obviously there are millions more that do (or don’t, but donate money) because over 41 million dollars has been raised so far, and there are many that have a conversation.
“Do you remember Gary?” I asked my son.
My son was young when a member of our extended family died of ALS. The disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord until muscle tissues all over the body atrophy, which leads to paralysis and death.
“Oh yeah, I remember.” he said, “He used his toes to answer yes or no when we talked to him.”
Yes. And that was the beginning of a discussion about a disease that affects so many people and their loved ones. (30,000 Americans) So hats off to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and the awareness (and money) that it has raised.
What a COOL way to bring awareness and funding to a devastating disease.
Take the challenge and pass it on…I did.
