#IceBucketChallenge

HONEYDEW – Your local community newspaper branch, Caxton Jo’burg North West, completed the #IceBucketChallenge on 4 September, after being nominated by Caxton Jo’burg North.

Branch manager, Chris Halstead, along with Group Editor, Sammi-Jo Botha, had buckets of ice water poured on them in the crisp, early hours of the morning and continued to nominate the Caxton Jo’burg North West Classifieds and Caxton Jo’burg digital teams to be drenched next.

“It was freezing!” exclaimed Botha. “But it was just a small price to pay to raise awareness of the disease and contribute toward its research.”

The challenge originated at Boston College, USA, after 29-year-old baseball player Pete Frates was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s or motor neuron disease (MND).

MND is caused by the degeneration of motor neuron nerve fibres, which in turn cause muscles and limbs to stiffen up and can lead to complete immobility. Sufferers are generally given one to five years left to live depending on the severity of the disease.

The challenge has since gone viral, with millions participating in the challenge across the world and donating funds toward various ALS and motor neuron disease research facilities, which will enable them to ultimately find a cure.

A general rule of the challenge is that it has to be completed within 24 hours of being nominated.

Visit the Motor Neuron Disease Association of South Africa’s website to find out how you can contribute when you have been nominated to participate in the #IceBuckegtChallenge.

Details: Motor Neuron Disease Association of South Africa www.mnda.org.za