Biology staff and students take ALS ice-bucket challenge
Photo Courtesy of The University of Akron Marketing and Communications Department
Assistant Professor Jordan Renna and students take the ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge
September 17, 2014
Over 100 liters of ice-cold water plummeted onto students and faculty of the Department of Biology who took the ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge.
Assistant Professor of Biology, Jordan M. Renna and students in the Neuroscience in Health and Disease class also donated $730 to raise awareness for ALS.
Renna was nominated to do the challenge, but he thought he could make a bigger splash if more people joined him. He let students vote anonymously to see if they would like to take part in the challenge.
Renna told the students that doing the challenge was “not for a grade and not for extra credit.” The vast majority of the class voted yes. The professor emphasized that the students were the ones who pushed participation in the challenge. He said that it would not have been possible without their generosity. The students raised $365, which the Department of Biology staff matched, resulting in $730.
The professor nominated Kent State University’s Department of Biological Sciences and all neuroscience classes in the country to complete the challenge. Kent State University has accepted the challenge. According to Renna, they completed the challenge and raised $80.
Renna is proud to say that with their contribution of over $800 has been donated to the ALS Association.
The ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge that gained popularity over the summer has spiked the number of donations to the ALS Association. According to the ALS Association, the widespread participation resulted in $113.3 million in donations as of Monday, Sept. 15.
There is no cure for ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons in the body degenerate and when the neurons die resulting in patients losing the ability to control muscle movement. Patients often become paralyzed. The ALS Association appreciates the support which is providing the resources needed to search for a cure.
The Department of Biology’s ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge has been viewed over 500 times on YouTube after only five days. The University of Akron shared the event on their Facebook page, receiving 50 likes thus far.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is a great way to continue the support after millions have participated in the challenge.
Julie Hilditch • Oct 20, 2023 at 1:51 AM
In December my health took a turn for the worse I became very weak fast and could not even eat When I say fast I mean going from eating a full plate of food to three days later not being able to drink a a sip of water I went to VA hospital emergency room for dehydration and figure they schedule me for a feeling tube placement They admitted me and two weeks later I woke up to my standing over me in the hospital room this occurred during my second or third drug holiday from Radicava Again no way to know if what I experienced was a side effect When I was discharged I was completely paralyzed So i started on Ayurvedic treatment from Natural Herbs Centre as time went on movement returned to my legs and to my arms and hands Able to hold my head up and strength has returned I give credit to God and NHC for my recovery Almost forgot to mention I was on 24 hours ventilation Now only use vent at night and during naps Was diagnosed in 2021 with ALS, I urge you to seek out naturalherbscentre. co m. We’re a little scared to tell everyone because some people might not believe us, since there’s no cure for ALS. But when I saw this post, I decided to share our story. This treatment is a breakthrough!
Marcia Stewart • Apr 20, 2022 at 2:14 AM
With my amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the first thing that happened almost 2 years ago now, was speaking as if I were drunk. I wasn’t. I initially did improve speech (articulating clearly but slow) but now I can no longer speak in an acceptable way. Then, a year later eating became problematic, I was biting my tongue and lips, and chewing became weak and less controlled. Soon after that some fingers started to fail me and things would drop out of my hands. Somewhere at that time bulbar ALS was diagnosed. The Rilutek (riluzole) did very little to help me. The medical team did even less. My decline was rapid and devastating.. We tried every shot available but nothing was working. There has been little if any progress in finding a reliable treatment, Our care provider introduced us to Kycuyu Health Clinic ALS/MND herbal treatment. The treatment is a miracle.i recovered significantly!
Lynn • Aug 7, 2020 at 9:25 PM
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