Happy Friday y’all!
It has finally happened. I have been called out to do the ALS ice bucket challenge, however, I actually received a challenge that was slightly different. Before I get into my challenge, I just wanted to share what this ice bucket challenge means to me.
This past year, one of my favorite people, my dad’s cousin Nancy, lost her husband. He was dealing with multiple health battles, but the week before he died, doctor’s also diagnosed him with ALS. I remember my dad calling me the night that Gary passed away to tell me the news, and I immediately jumped online to look up ALS. I had heard of ALS before, but really only knew that it was also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. That was the extent of my knowledge of this terrible disease. I have had my ups and downs in regards to how I feel about the ice bucket challenge, but at the end of the day, I remind myself that it is for an incredible cause. Despite the criticism I’ve read, and negative comments regarding narcissistic videos that have been posted, the ice bucket challenge has done two important things-raise awareness for a disease that many of us knew little about AND raised a lot of money. How can any of us hate too much on that?
Gary
If you have not already, please visit alsa.org to learn more about ALS and the struggles that people fighting this disease go through each and every day. I encourage you to donate to ALS, and you can easily do so here.
Now, the challenge that my sister passed on was based upon her interpretation of the ALS Ice Bucket challenge.
Sarah has always been one to bend the rules and interpret things in her own way, and I’ve always admired that. So I have been challenged to donate to the the Alzheimer’s Association rather than ALS as it is an organization that our family consistently gives to, and is really close to all of our hearts. On September 6th, as a family, we will be participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and we are still working to raise money for our team. In honor of my Granny, Emily Grace Design will be donating $100 to The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s as well as making a donation in honor of Gary to ALS.
The Mission of the Alzheimer’s Association
To eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
To keep the trend going, I would like to challenge 4 people that I know have charitable organizations that are very near and dear to their hearts. Organizations that are important to them because they too have lost people they love. I would like to challenge my John McCollum, Becky Higgs, Cecilia Dixon, and Lauren Murawski. I challenge you to give yourself and any donation you can to the organizations that drive you. Whether it is ALS, Alzheimer’s Association, Cancer Research, or anything else, I challenge you to give. Give your time, your energy, your feet pounding on the pavement in the form of marathons (keep running Lauren), your money, and your desire to bring awareness to the struggles that your family has dealt with, and do it in honor of those that you have loved and lost. And if you feel compelled, feel free to dump ice water on yourselves and pass it on!
And to the friends of Emily Grace Design, I challenge you! Pass it on, and pay it forward. Do something that matters today!
If you would like to make a donation to The Walk to End Alzheimer’s, we would love your support. Donate to Team B. Lou here.
