King David’s joins ALS challenge
KING David High School Linksfield took part in the world-wide phenomenon, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is also known as motor neuron disease.
According to the school’s marketing manager, Jodi Starkowitz, this was also in support of the J9 Foundation founded by former Springbok player, Joost van der Westhuizen after being diagnosed with the disease.
Van der Westhuizen attended the event during which the head of school, Marc Falconer as well as the student leadership body, had buckets of ice water poured over them.
Starkowitz said the school used borehole water for the challenge. “We took into consideration the amount of water that would be unnecessarily wasted,” she said.
Starkowitz added that the school had nominated other schools to take up the challenge. “We have also challenged King David Victory Park, Yeshiva College, King Edward School, and SAHETI School,” said Starkowitz.
“… We feel it is important to show our solidarity and support for [people suffering from] this terrible disease. We hope that our challenge has managed to put power behind our message and raised awareness.”
The challenge started in the United States and aims to raise money for organisations supporting people living with the incurable disease.
Starkowitz said the money raised would be donated to Van der Westhuizen’s charity organisation.
