ALS Walk and Ice Bucket Challenge

We went to Emporia a little over a week ago to help with the ALS WALK there on Saturday, August 23rd.

ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, was first found in 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, but it wasn't until 1939 that Lou Gehrig brought national and international attention to the disease.  Ending the career of one of the most beloved baseball players of all time, the disease is still most closely associated with his name.  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.  Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body.  The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death.  When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost.  With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.

Attendance at this year's walk nearly doubled from previous years.  There was an estimated 500 walkers and volunteers that showed up to participate.  And, this year's walk raised over $66,000 that will go directly to the ALS Association, almost doubling last year's total raised.  There currently is no cure or treatment for ALS, but events like this help in many important ways.  Part of the money goes to the ALS Association for research, but a bigger part goes to help give a bit of comfort to those suffering and their caregivers.

I have loved seeing all of the ice and freezing cold water being poured on people all across the country and world.  Collectively we are raising funds and awareness of a horrible disease.  A disease that stole the life of one of my very best family friends, Jeff McCloud, eight years ago.  after Jeff was diagnosed our family became involved with the ALS Association.  We joined team's in Jeff's honor, running and walking to help raise funds to defeat ALS.  After living and battling with ALS for ten years, Jeff died on March 17th, 2006.  It was a terribly sad day for his family and all of his friends.

After the walk, those of us who had not taken the ice bucket challenge yet and wanted to, lined up, smiled, laughed, challenged others, and remembered our friend, Jeff.  He would have loved watching us getting that ice and ice cold water poured all over us.  I can hear him laughing, and that makes me smile and cry happy tears for a man that I loved, and miss.

In line to take the challenge first: left to right ~ Cameron, Taylor, Shirley, Virginia, Sarah, Matt, Phoebe, and Stacee.  

Our ice and water dumpers were Eric and Greg.

Shirley and Virginia made some pretty funny faces when they got dumped on!

It was VERY COLD!  Phoebe wanted to be held while they dumped on us.  She got a LOT on her. She just about cried, but held it together, and just made a super sad face.

Next up it was the dumpers turn to get dumped on... Eric and Greg were challenged and Matt and I dumped the ice and cold water on them.  (Notice Sarah wanted to do it again, and stood close to them hoping to get some of their cold ice and water.)  Lastly, Dwayne took the challenge.  (Notice Silas standing very close to Dwayne... he kept inching closer and closer, playing in the ice and getting a little water splashed on him.  So this time we encouraged him to stand next to Dwayne for the challenge.... 

Not good, his little head got pinged with a lot of ice and a tidal wave of cold water.  He cried for a few minutes, then went back to his normal happy self.)

Friends and family members, please keep pouring the cold water and ice on yourselves and each other for this cause.  It is well worth it.  If you have time, please click on the following link and read the blog entry written by the wife of a man who battles with ALS now everyday.

Bo Stern ~ What an ALS family REALLY thinks about the ice bucket challenge (CLICK HERE)

Below, is our family, after we all took the ice bucket challenge.

Some of the faces and hard working people behind the Emporia ALS WALK helping to make it successful every year:  Left to right ~ Paul and Gloria, Shirley, Jeline and John, Virginia and Ron.

What can you do to help?  If you haven't already, you can donate to your local ALS Association, and you can pray.
Pray for healing, Pray for comfort.  Pray for courage.  Pray for a cure.

For more information or to make a donation to the ALS ASSOCIATION ~ CLICK HERE