ALS Association Invites Chicago To Take Ice Bucket Challenge
CHICAGO (CBS) -- You might have seen Patrick Kane do it, or Blackhawks teammate Andrew Shaw, or even head coach Joel Quenneville. The Chicago chapter of the ALS Association is hoping you'll take the ice bucket challenge too.
The viral sensation, which has used the hash tag #IceBucketChallenge, involves dumping a bucket of ice on your head.
Patrick Kane used a hockey stick to break the ice in the bag before he poured it in the bucket - and then ultimately on his head.
Really, the way it works is: either douse yourself in ice water; or donate money to the ALS Association, which provides services to people with Lou Gehrig's Disease.
In the Chicago area, that's 600 to 700 people.
Julie Sharpe, executive director of the Chicago chapter, said the hope is people will do both. She's seen a lot of videos of the ice bucket challenge. One of her favorites?
"A Boston EMS crew," she said. "They're standing in front of their ambulance, and I think it's a freeloader just dumps a ton of water and ice on top of all the team that's standing there."
It started when Pete Frates, who was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2012, challenged his friends to dump a bucket of ice on themselves within 24 hours or donate $100 to the ALS foundation.
Dave Hasebroock and Brandon Zieman played baseball alongside Frates at Boston College and both now live in Chicago. CBS 2's Marissa Bailey spoke with the pair, who were among the first to do to take the challenge.
"I would have never guessed the national and international growth it's had over the last week," said Dave. "It's been amazing to watch."
"The rate that it's just grown and developed it's just kinda like a token of what kind of person Pete is," said Brandon.
A spokesperson from the ALS national office in Washington, D.C. says $4-million has been raised since July 29 thanks to the ice bucket challenge.
That's up almost $3 million from the same time period last year.
Click here for more information about the ALS ice bucket challenge.
