My response to Tims Ice-Bucket Challenge - I was recently issued the ALS ice bucket challenge by Mr. Tim Pickworth – there’s more about Tim at the end. For me, the whole ice-water-over-the-head video thing isn’t going to happen. That’s just not me. Ive never owned a pet rock, a mood ring, gone streaking, or swallowed a live goldfish, for much the same reason. In fact, the last time I indulged in fad mentality was when I opened my Facebook account and you can see where that has led. Besides, in any given day I can come up with a dozen or so ways to embarrass myself without a script or video camera. One small but significant reasons I live and work where I do is that it affords me the luxury of being able to do things like sit an 800lb piece of equipment on my foot without the added benefit of witnesses to share and embellish the tales of my carelessness. That said, a challenge is a challenge, and before filing this thing in the pet rock folder I felt that I should at least learn more about ALS, so I did some research. Although it only began in the May-June timeframe of this year, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge gained enough recognition to already have its own article on Wikipedia. There they say that The Ice Bucket Challenge, sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, is an activity involving dumping a bucket of ice water on someones head to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and encourage donations to research. Apparently the alternative to the cold shower is to donate $100 to support ALS research. It occurred to me that although Ive seen dozens of Facebook postings of the IBC, and they do make folks aware of ALS, none of them seemed to actually inform the viewers about ALS. The IBC brought it to my attention, but didnt explain much about ALS or why it is so important to support the research for a treatment or cure. At this point all I knew was that this was the disease that took Lou Gehrigs life long before his time (https://youtube/watch?v=_SKyfGK9brs). So I did some more research. From the mda.org website: About ALS - ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a disease of the parts of the nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement. Nerve cells that control muscle cells are gradually lost, causing the muscles to become weak and eventually nonfunctional. Walking, talking, eating, hugging and even breathing become nearly impossible, although the mind stays sharp. Most people with ALS live 3 to 5 years after diagnosis. I would consider this a rather “gentle” description. You can find a more complete and accordingly more horrifying description at this link on Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALS). After studying the material, here is how I would summarize ALS: ALS is a cruel disease as are most, but this one particularly so. It was first identified as a disease in 1869 yet one hundred and forty-five years of medical and scientific research has produced no cure and no treatment. If you get it your prospects are not good. It is particularly cruel because it allows most of its victims to live normal healthy lives for 40 to 70 years before attacking them, at which point they typically have 3 to 5 years to live, and with rapidly decaying quality of life to the point of becoming entirely dependent on others for their most basic needs. It is particularly cruel because it takes its victims healthy body and renders it into a prison in which the torment is unthinkable by all but those who cannot escape it. And lastly, it is particularly cruel because while it strips away the victim’s ability for conscious movement, it has little or no effect on the victims mental faculties leaving them fully aware of what is happening to them and powerless to stop it. This thing needs to go. So after learning these things, I have no problem accepting the challenge but opting to make a donation in lieu of a public act of self-humiliation. It is my hope that anyone who reads this now has a better understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, Lou Gehrigs disease, motor neurone disease, Charcot disease, or whatever other alias may be given to this special piece of hell incarnate, and that they too will see fit to contribute to the cause to find a way to treat or cure it. While I was writing this I heard someone on CNN quote a phrase from the West Point Cadet Prayer - Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong... I liked that and thought was applicable. Besides, Im certain that making a donation to a worthy cause feels much better than having a bucket of ice water (or paint in Tim’s case) dumped over your head. And that brings me to the end of this post. I strongly believe that credit should be given where it is due and had it not been for the challenge issued by my good friend Tim Pickworth, I probably would not have bothered to learn more about ALS or contribute to its cause (remember, I mentioned that Id get back to Tim). Tim and I have been friends since childhood and he is known to enjoy having fun at my expense from time to time, although usually not so publicly or literally. On some levels this is a trait to be admired. The IBC moved me to learn more about ALS, it compelled me to contribute to the cause, and for this I have Tim to thank. To me it seemed entirely appropriate to list Tim as the remitter of the $100 cashiers check that I’ve sent to the ALS Foundation. In the spirit of theme continuity I also used his home address for the return address on the envelope that delivered the check, and I included the ALS donation form filled out with Tim’s address, email, and phone contact information. I don’t recall seeing a privacy statement on the ALS web site but I’m sure that they will handle his information in a professional manner consistent with best business practices. I thank Tim for the challenge and believe that he should get all of the recognition that he rightfully deserves. I just hope there’s room in his mail box for this year’s Christmas card and plenty of storage on his answering machine.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 21:41:44 +0000