‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ Cools Off Armstrong County
La Roche College President Sister Candace Introcaso, CDP, Ph.D. and Howard Ishiyama, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and academic dean, accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Friday. The challenge has also circulated through the Armstrong County Courthouse and keeps spreading through surrounding communities. (submitted photo).
By Jonathan Weaver
The ice bucket challenge to spread awareness for those living with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, has challenged elected public officials, musical talents and friends around the world – as well as in Armstrong County.
The social media craze that asks those challenged to either dump a bucket of ice water on their head or donate to the ALS Association has flooded county elected officials and volunteers via Facebook the past few weeks.
Those challenges accepted so far include the Armstrong County Commissioners (videos could be found of Chair David Battaglia and Rich Fink), County Coroner Brian Myers and Tourist Bureau Director Kevin Andrews, just to name a few.
Myers actually challenged the commissioners via Facebook and was not surprised they took part.
“If you start at the top, I think more people will do it,” Myers said. “It’s a disease I think people aren’t really (aware of) what it does to people.”
Myers, also director of Carson/Boyer Funeral Home in Rural Valley, completed the challenge with wife, Karli, son, Carter (4) and daughter, Dylan (2) since they were also challenged. The family personally knew former “Brown’s Barber Shop” owner and restaurant owner of “Brown’s Family Restaurant” owner Rodney Brown in Rural Valley – who died of the disease at the end of March.
“It’s all about raising awareness and I hope other organizations do the same thing because I think as long as people participate and be challenged to do something, people will donate and help others out,” Myers said.
Fink then challenged County Financial Advisor/Marcellus Shale Coordinator Carly Cowan, Chief Clerk George Skamai and County Secretary Deb Whiteman.
Cowan and Skamai completed their challenges Thursday evening.
“I’m surprised I lasted this long without being nominated,” Cowan said. “Now that it’s my boss, I kind-of feel like I have to do it.
She agreed with Myers’ suggestion to expand the challenge.
“I don’t know of anyone with ALS, but I heard it raised millions and millions of dollars and think you should do (the challenge) to raise awareness for more things,” Cowan added. “There are so many types of cancer – maybe we should do it to be able to research that.”
Cowan completed the challenge with daughter, Rayanne, and then proceeded to challenge “within the work family” Director of Elections/Chief Registrar Wendy Buzard and Purchasing Coordinator Marcy Uncapher
Skamai also was a ‘team player’ and took the challenge with daughter, Elizabeth, and son, Sam, pouring on the water. Both children also were challenged before.
“Any form of activism that brings attention to a worthy cause and does it in an entertaining or amusing way is something I think is great,” Skamai said. “The humor in it, the challenge is what makes it successful – seeing recordings of people you wouldn’t think would actually do something like that actually partake is what helps make it spread.”
Of the three Skamai challenged included his wife, Amy, and County Record Manager Tammy Palmo.
Andrews and his wife, Katelynn, were nominated through a personal friend and they completed the challenge Friday.
“I’m not scared – I used to be a Boy Scout and we would do the Polar Bear Swim, so I’m used to it,” Andrews said. “I think it’s very important.”
The challenge – which has garnered $53.3 million in donations since July 29 – was also completed by Manor Township Assistant Fire Chief Chad Evans and Ford Cliff Fire Chief Bill Goodman, among others.
Local News | jweaver August 25, 2014
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By blutoblutarsky, August 27, 2014 @ 3:50 PM
Did our buddy Jorn participate in an ice bucket challenge???
By jorn jensen, August 28, 2014 @ 10:38 AM
bluto - You seem obsessed with me. I donate to charity - when I do, it doesn’t involve ice or ‘selfies’ - I do so quietly and I don’t tell anyone. You had your chance to donate to two charities last evening at the Cadet cruise - Wounded Warriors of Armstrong County and Cystic Fibrosis. Put your money where your keystrokes are.