Wirch Accepts “Ice Bucket Challenge” with Donation to Fight ALS

Madison- State Senator Bob Wirch (D-Somers) today accepted the “Ice Bucket Challenge” issued to him by State Representative Samantha Kerkman (R-Powers Lake) by making a donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) of Southeastern Wisconsin to aid in the fight against ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

“I am pleased that Representative Kerkman challenged me to join her in the fight against ALS. As an avid baseball fan, I am aware of the impact of the disease on baseball legend Lou Gehrig. The Ice Bucket Challenge has brought greater awareness of the disease, and I am happy to make a donation to MDA of Southeastern Wisconsin to continue their work to find a cure,” Wirch said.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a disease of the parts of the nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement. Nerve cells that control muscle cells are gradually lost, causing the muscles to become progressively weaker, impacting all physical activity. Walking, talking, eating, and even breathing are compromised, while the mind stays sharp; most people with ALS live three to five years after diagnosis. The Ice Bucket Challenge started when 29-year-old Pete Frates, diagnosed with ALS in 2012, posted an ice bucket video on social media and challenged a few friends to follow his lead. It has since become an internet sensation, raising over $13 million for ALS research.

“In Wisconsin, we are fortunate to have the Muscular Dystrophy Association working to fund treatments and cures for ALS and over forty other neuromuscular diseases. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, MDA sponsors an ALS clinic where individuals can go to receive a diagnosis and ongoing treatment. I challenge everyone to make a donation and continue the fight to fund a cure for ALS,” stated Wirch.

MDA spends $65 a minute in its worldwide research program and supports more than 250 projects around the world.