Del Mar - Solana Beach Rotarian modifies ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

At the first September meeting of the Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary Club, Jan Parsons modified the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge process by challenging her Rotary club members to douse both her and fellow Rotarian Kevin Cahill in exchange for donations to the ALS Association. Parsons had been challenged recently by a friend who had had four family members and friends die from ALS. This touched Parsons so much that it got her thinking about how to raise more money and make it fun, too.

During the meeting, 12 members and a visiting Rotarian accepted her challenge.

“I was touched by the generosity of our members — the amount they gave, and the number who participated,” said Parsons, who estimated that this single, two-minute dousing has led directly to over $1,200 going to fight ALS, with even more to be contributed through downstream challenges.

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), often called Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It leads to progressive muscle weakness that causes difficulty in speaking, swallowing and breathing, and, ultimately, death.

For more information about the Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary Club, contact Paul Butler at 619-559-3213 or info@DMSBRotary.com, or visit www.DMSBRotary.com.