State Delegate
Rob Krupicka, representing Virginia's 45th District, accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge today at Hopkins House. Five "Young Scholars" enrolled in Hopkins House's Helen Day Preschool Academy poured ice water on the delegates head.
In the few weeks since the Ice Bucket Challenge began, everyone from Ethel Kennedy to Justin Timberlake has poured a bucket of ice water over his or her head and challenged others do the same or make a donation to fight ALS within twenty-four hours.
"We are delighted that Delegate Krupicka selected Hopkins House to raise public awareness and financial support for this important cause," said Hopkins House President, J. Glenn Hopkins.
According to the ALS Association, over $40 million in donations have come as a result of this challenge, compared to $1.12 million during the same time period last year. Krupicka pledged a $20 donation to the ALS Association in the name of the five preschool academy students.
In addition to raising money, the Ice Buck Challege is helping to educate the public about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Currently, there is only one drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ALS, which only modestly extends survival by two to three months. Consequently, ALS is 100 percent fatal. In addition to acclimating to the challenges that come with losing control of voluntary muscle movement, people with the disease progressively lose their ability to eat, speak, walk, and eventually breathe.