Assumption School Joins Ice Bucket Challenge Craze
BELLEVUE (KDKA) -- "ALS" is a terrible disease which usually ends with paralysis and death. But as we have seen, the ALS Association has come up with a unique way to raise funds for research.
Today, an entire school took part in the "Ice Bucket Challenge." Water bowls were lined up at Assumption Catholic School in Bellevue.
Principal Mary Ann Miller organized the chaos.
"They're very excited. They can't wait to do it," she said. "Especially the ones that get to dump it on me and the priest, and the other teachers. They're very excited."
For Fr. Dan Langa, it's personal.
"My dad was diagnosed with ALS, would have been August of 2010," he says. "He died in November 2012. And at that time, we'd been so grateful to the Western Chapter of Pennsylvania's ALS, who are here today," said Ft. Langa. "That's where the money's going. It's not just about getting ice buckets, but it's about supporting this cause and need."
Students and parents are encouraged to bring donations to the school. Eighty of the 120 students volunteered for the challenge. At the count of three, they doused themselves with ice water.
Merritt Spier, executive director of the Western Pennsylvania chapter of the ALS Association, says the nonprofit group is having a record year.
"For the ALS Association across the nation, as of this morning, we've raised over $90 million dollars," said Spier.
Even the teachers and priests were dunked with ice water.
Seventh grader Sofia Gallick spoke for the students, saying, "I liked it. I thought that it was refreshing."
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