The CIE Staff braved 75 degree weather to step up to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on the morning of Wednesday, August 20. The CIE was challenged by our very own Toni Sperzel, Program Manager of the Turner and GEM Fellowship Programs. Toni dedicated her participation in the challenge to her grandfather Clem Vicari and family friend William Johnke, who both passed away in 2010 after fighting long battles against ALS.

ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects as many as 30,000 people in the U.S. alone. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has been wildly popular in raising awareness to the disease, resulting in $22.9 million donated to The ALS Association over the last three weeks, compared to $1.9 million they received last year during the same time period. 

Watch the CIE take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

The CIE Staff took their soaking in stride, calling out all CIE Scholars and Faculty and the Graduate School Staff to participate in the challenge. For more information on ALS or to find out where you can donate, please visit The ALS Association.