WJZ's Linh Bui & Marty Bass Take On The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The videos are all over the internet: people dumping buckets of ice water over their heads. It's all for a good cause. The ALS "Ice Bucket Challenge."
Linh Bui and Marty Bass were recently nominated. So they had to face the music. Or, in this case, face the ice cold water.
It's the ice cold challenge, burning up social media. From the Ravens to the Orioles to Johns Hopkins Hospital, it seems like everyone's taking on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
The purpose is to raise awareness and money for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, a fatal degeneration of nerves and muscles.
"I have patients who've lived decades. And unfortunately, I have patients who died within a few months," said Dr. Jeffery Rothstein, Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Former athlete Peter Frates has ALS at age 29. He got the challenge going. And now it's soaking the nation.
"Now we're in the middle of this storm and it's really exciting," said John Frates, father of Peter Frates.
If you're nominated, you can either get drenched or donate to charity. Then you get to challenge others.
Here's who Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith nominated after he took the challenge:
"Adam Jones, my boy from the Orioles; Justin Tucker, the best comb-over in the world; and Jacoby Jones," Smith said.
The National ALS Association has received $1.35 million within a two-week period. Compare that to the $22,000 donated the same time last year.
"These kinds of efforts of both awareness and fundraising are just incredible important," Rothstein said.
Former Raven O.J. Brigance has ALS.
"I have learned to appreciate people and moments of life. Not taking them for granted," Brigance said.
His Brigance Brigade Foundation helps people coping with the disease. Brigance recently talked to WJZ's Vic Carter about ALS.
Carter: "When people see you, what impression do you want them to have of you?"
Brigance: "I would like them to see a man making the most of a fine situation and still living life to the fullest."
Thanks to the Ice Bucket Challenge, the Brigance Brigade has also seen more donations. And now the social phenomenon comes to WJZ.
Our own Jessica Kartalijia... Doused! Who did she challenge?
"I nominate Marty Bass and Linh Bui," she said.
Challenge accepted.
Watch Linh & Marty get soaked with ice cold water:
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