The viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge came my way. Miranda from Plus Sized Mama and author of Lemonade and Holy Stuff challenged me. I get what the intention was in the beginning. Well, kind of. Bring awareness to the horrid disease that takes the joy of living from so many people. I did a bit of research online so that I could be more educated on the disease. What has gotten lost in the challenge, however, is the education and the actual donations to a reputable charity that is in dire need of funding to continue research and help with finding ways to fight this disease. Instead of making donations I suspect that people are accepting the challenge, not donating the $10 that goes with doing the challenge and not really understanding the whole reason behind the challenge. While the donation amount for ALS has risen dramatically as evidenced in news reports I suspect it is a fraction of what it could be.
So I am going to do it My Way. Which means I will NOT be dumping a pail, bucket, galvanized tub of ice water on my head. Instead, after much research and advice gained through Charity Navigator —I will be making not one but two donations. One to the ALS Association and one to Samaritan’s Purse for their water in the Sudan Project which is one that I donated to before as a Comments for a Cause recipient in honor of my dear friend, Betty Barnhardt. As I write this post Betty is in her final days on this earth and it seems even more poignant that I honor her by donating to a water project instead of dumping water on my head.
The mission of the ALS Association is:
OUR MISSION: Leading the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.
Samaritan’s Purse offers a wonderful short video that will explain their mission:
To add to my doing it My Way I will also sit down and have a lovely glass of iced tea—-made with of all things—-WATER! Ice water at that! Cheers!!!
<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/104011888″>ice Water Challenge</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user7754168″>Beth Ann Chiles</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>
