On Aug. 18, 2014, the Bel Air Girls’ JV soccer team participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge after being challenged to do so by the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. Former Boston College Baseball Captain Pete Frates sensed something was wrong with his body in 2011. He was then diagnosed with ALS in 2012 at just 27 years old.

Frates wanted to make a difference. He wanted to spread the word. As a result, he started the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that has made people from all over the world participate in the challenge through a fun way. The challenge is to dump an entire bucket of ice water on yourself, then nominate three people to do the same.

JV captain Mady Dougherty says, “I think the ice bucket challenge is a great idea. Not only are people from all over having a fun with it, but it also raises awareness of this disease.”

Students from Bel Air High are not the only ones participating in this challenge; professional athletes, celebrities, and families from all over are, too.

Dougherty says, “I know of many people who do the challenge and still donate to the ALS association just because they’re aware of the disease now by hearing about the challenge, participating in it, or just seeing others be a part of it. I think that’s amazing.”

Like any other disease, ALS should not be taken lightly, and the ice bucket challenge is a great way to raise awareness of this disease one by one.