The Ice Bucket Challenge, a fundraiser for ALS, is taking the online world − and Langley it seems − by storm.
On Wednesday, Kyle Sanker and Patrick Matiowski represented the Langley Lodge in the challenge and proceeded to dump buckets of ice water on each other.
While it may seem a bit silly, the challenge is growing quickly in popularity and has already exceeded the original ALS Canada goal and is half-way to the new goal of $3 million to fund a search for a cure. In the U.S. the total has topped $40 million.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently accepted a challenge from Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Because these cells die, people with ALS often face partial or total paralysis as part of the terminal condition.
The Ice Bucket Challenge encourages those nominated to dump a bucket of ice water over their head, make a donation to ALS, or both, in order to raise awareness and funds for ALS.
Nominees who accept the challenge videotape the icy blast and post it online while nominating others to do the same.
In their video, Sanker and Matiowski challenged Langley resident, Kristyl Clark, the creator of blogzine She’s a Valley Mom, and the Langley Advance’s very own publisher Ryan McAdams.
McAdams took up the challenge Thursday afternoon when two employees, assistant sales manager Peggy O’Brien and Dennis Thomas of the Glacier Media Advertising Service Centre in Langley, had the honour of dumping ice water on McAdams.
In turn, the publisher nominated Milt Kruger of On Line Collision who, according to McAdams, “said he’d gladly accept.†Kruger had 24 hours to complete the challenge.
Here’s some other locals who have taken on the challenge and their YouTube links.
• George Kozlovic, principal of Walnut Grove Secondary School, accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from Shawn Davids.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KnXnDPk5zw&feature=youtu.be
• Langley Lodge, represented by Kyle Sanker and Patrick Matiowski, challenging Langley Advance publisher Ryan McAdams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFqEa-lNgYc
• Long & McQuade Langley’s manager Kyle was challenged to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. In memory of the district manager who passed away this spring with ALS. Pete Davyduck of Fender Canada joined in by FaceTime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSMSacn6Hd0
• West Langley Elementary PAC president Wendy Southam accepted the challenge from Shawn Davids. She has also nominated a West Langley, a parent and a person from North Langley Community Church.
http://goo.gl/25duUA
• Grant McMillan of Trinity Western University used water from the pond at the campus and added ice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR9vsFtPLa8