On Saturday, August 23, the Olathe Fire Department turned out to help the Olathe Northwest High School Football Team fulfill the internet craze of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which had been issued by one of the player’s aunts.
The firefighters brought in a hook-and-ladder truck, raised a hose high in the air, and drenched all 100 members of the football team. Since they had just finished scrimmage, the challenge was no doubt a welcome one.
In recent weeks, videos of actors, politicians, sports figure,s and others dumping ice water over their heads have gone viral. People who are getting soaking wet and cold in this way are participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, in which they have 24 hours after being challenged, to be filmed dumping ice water over themselves.
Originally, the challenge, which seems to have arisen spontaneously in about 2013, was often used to raise money for cancer, but the focus has recently shifted to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
The ALS Association says it has raised $62.5m this year, as compared to $2.4m in the same timeframe last year.
Olathe team officials could work with a postcard printing company to create a card to mail to Olathe residents, showing the team during the challenge, and urging donations to the ALS Association.
