In recent months, The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has been sweeping the nation and dominating news feeds of all social media sites. Although the phenomenon is more common amongst students, the teachers of Lockport Township High School are not ones to back down from a challenge.

The challenge, in which people are nominated by friends to either make a video of themselves dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads or donate money to the ALS foundation, has not only raised awareness, but also over $112 million to support research for the disease. As many as 30,000 Americans are living with ALS and about 5,600 are diagnosed every year. Awareness of the disease has skyrocketed since the phenomenon went viral during July of 2014.

Two of the many teachers who participated in the challenge include History teacher Dan Blaskovitz and Math teacher Julie Decaire. By donating and participating in the challenge through posting their videos to Facebook, the teachers have been two of many who have contributed to spreading awareness and funding research.

“Donation is a big part of the challenge, but spreading awareness and doing it selflessly is just as important. I would do it again,” said Blaskovitz.

Similar to Blaskovitz, Decaire believes participating and spreading awareness is extremely important. “I knew of the disease but this challenge helped me realize how common and devastating it really can be.”

Many school sports teams are also taking on the challenge together. Lockport Varsity cheer team posted a video to support the foundation and, in turn, nominated Lockport’s Varsity football team. Carl Sandburg Varsity poms was even willing to set aside the ongoing rivalry and nominate Lockport’s Varsity poms team to join them in support of the cause.

“It’s really cool that our rivals nominated us to do the challenge with them,” said senior Lockport Poms member Courtney Stakenas. “We loved seeing them come together as a team and do something that influenced us along with their school.”

Whether these nominations were inspired to help the foundation or just to see the others get drenched with ice water, the videos all support an amazing cause.

“Who doesn’t want to see their teacher or coach get a bucket of ice water poured over their head? I know that some of the coaches have challenged their players or players have nominated their coaches, so I think that it definitely has made a difference. Every person to make a video or donate helps to spread awareness,” said Decaire.

While the monetary contribution that has been made to the association is astronomical, the participants in the challenge are the ones who made it all happen. Even if donating is not something you are able to do, there are so many ways for people to help. The ALS Association hosts a Walk to Defeat ALS which is a great way to support the foundation.

If you wish to learn more about ways in which you can help fight ALS, visit www.alsa.org.