Did you take the challenge? Ross Medical Education Center in Evansville did. On August 22, students and staff gathered in the parking lot of their campus to raise awareness about ALS, also known as Lou Gerhig’s Disease, by challenging Administrators, Career Development, and Financial Aid staff to take part in the viral ALS Association Ice Bucket Challenge. In preparation for the event, staff and faculty collected $120.00 in donations for the ALS Association.
Established in 1985, the ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to the research, pursuit of treatment, and raising awareness of ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, in which nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are affected. According to the ALS Association website, www.alsa.org, approximately 5,600 Americans are diagnosed with the disease annually and there are an estimated 30,000 cases in the states at any given time. ALS is a disease that can affect anyone, which is one of the reasons behind the motivation for the Evansville campus to raise funds for and awareness about the disease. The cause of the disease has not been identified, there is no known cure, and the treatment options are limited. The need for research and advocacy are the driving missions behind the ALS Association. They provide support to those people who are living with ALS and their families.
The ALS Association Ice Bucket Challenge was derived from the practice that has existed in the sports world for years. It was incorporated into an ALS Awareness campaign and became viral in July 2014 by some of the very people affected by the Disease. The ALS Association website credits Jeanette and Anthony Senerchia, Pat Quinn, and the Frates family with inspiring the nation to take part in the Ice Bucket Challenge. Each of them have been impacted by ALS, and what started as commitment on their part quickly became something that “inspired the nation.”
If you are interested in taking the ALS Ice Bucket challenge and spreading the word, donating, or getting additional information on the disease or the ALS Association, resources/material can be found at www.alsa.org or www.cdc.gov/als. To view the Evansville campus’ ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, click here, and to see some from our other campuses, visit Ross Medical Education Center on Facebook.