ALS Ice Bucket Challenge accepted!
On August 26, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation staff gathered with buckets of iced water to take part in the popular ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Twenty-seven staff members collectively rose to the challenge to continue to bring awareness to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through social media. Other teams within the Vancouver Coastal Health community, including the Eye Bank of BC and the ALS Team at GF Strong Rehab Centre, have also participated in the challenge and donated to patient care at the ALS Centre at GF Strong. Watch their videos here.
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge donations made to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation will support revolutionary ALS research underway at the Brain Research Centre at UBC Hospital. Led by Dr. Neil Cashman, one of the world’s renowned experts in brain and spinal cord degenerative diseases, researchers and scientists are studying how ALS spreads through the body. Research is the key to uncovering effective treatments and eventually a cure for patients. Learn more about ALS Research at UBC here.
To help Dr. Neil Cashman and his research team find innovative treatments for ALS, you can make a donation at http://vghfoundation.ca/needs/als-research/.
Julia Mah
I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this article strongly stating why the ice bucket challenge is irresponsible and maybe even harmful:
http://www.macleans.ca/society/health/why-the-ice-bucket-challenge-is-bad-for-you/
I shared some thoughts on my blog as well:
http://juliakristina.com/2014/08/on-second-thought-the-ice-bucket-challenge/
carolyn hall
I am appalled that VCH (ostensibly a health promoting organization) is promoting this event/challenge. Please see below for an informed opinion re: ALS deaths, deaths due to lack of potable or even boilable water. SHame on us at VCH for not seeing the global realities ignored by this stunt.
http://foodsecurefutures.wordpress.com/2014/08/22/asl-ice-bucket-challenge-and-sustainable-water-management-global-considerations/
and, btw, ALS kills about 5000 people annually in the US – lack of water – millions around the world.
Barbara Grantham, President & CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
Thank you for your comment. Yes, the shortage of water in other countries is a serious issue and one that is also worthy of philanthropic support. We took care to plan the location of our challenge so as not to be completely wasteful. We positioned ourselves on a green space where the grass could benefit from the water we poured, especially following our long, dry summer. Still, I appreciate and endorse your position that there are many worthy causes out there and I encouraged as many people as possible to get involved, either through their time or financial support.