By Byron Croft
For The Alpine Sun
Daniel J. Tucker, Tribal Chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, and the Sycuan Casino got in on the “Ice Bucket Challenge” to help fundraising efforts for the ALS Association, in a show of support and solidarity for Sycuan’s former Controller, Barbara Brady, who is now fighting this devastating disease.
By Byron Croft
For The Alpine Sun
Daniel J. Tucker, Tribal Chairman of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, and the Sycuan Casino got in on the “Ice Bucket Challenge” to help fundraising efforts for the ALS Association, in a show of support and solidarity for Sycuan’s former Controller, Barbara Brady, who is now fighting this devastating disease.
For those who may somehow be unaware, the Ice Bucket Challenge is a “viral” social media-based, grassroots fundraising effort where participants are challenged to donate to the ALS Association, or instead, dump a bucket of ice and water over their heads. After choosing an option, the participants then pass the challenge on to others by nominating the next participants.
Thus far, over the summer, over $100 million has been raised for the ALS Association, since July 29th, by over three million donors.
Chairman Tucker and over 125 other participants who helped collect donations, including a $5,000 check from Sycuan Casino, gathered on the front lawn, in front of the Sycuan Casino. It was announced by Tucker, out of sensitivity to California’s current drought conditions, the front lawn had not been watered for several days, in anticipation of the icy water dousings, and that no water was being wasted.
After a quick countdown, Sycuan’s Ice Bucket Challenge participants each lifted a bucket containing a few gallons of water and ice over their heads and poured it on themselves.
Although, originally, the icy dousings were the alternative “punishment” option for not making a donation, the Sycuan participants, like many others, including celebrities, sports stars, actors and politicians, opted to both donate and take their ice shower for fun, and to help raise greater awareness.
The ALS Association, is a non-profit organization tasked with funding research, community awareness, and support for researchers and sufferers of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
ALS, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease where the cells within the brain and the neural pathways of the spinal cord, connections responsible for communication to the body’s muscles, are attacked and are slowly eroded.
As the disease progresses, the sufferer loses voluntary muscle control, leading to eventual paralysis, often with the mind remaining sharp and fully functioning.
The later stages of ALS commonly leave the patient feeling trapped inside an inoperable body.
One notable example of such, and someone who has radically beat the average life expectancy of three to five years from time of diagnosis, is Stephen Hawking, renowned Cosmologist and Theoretical Physicist. Although diagnosed at 21, Hawking has married twice, fathered three children, and will celebrate his 73rd birthday in January 2015. He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor, and his discoveries and contributions to science are legendary.
Recent controversy surrounding the ALS Association and their handling of donated funds has emerged as rumors abound on the internet, spread by bloggers and social media postings.
Claims that the majority of donations to the ALS Association are mishandled or that more than 70% of their funding goes to administrative expenses and salaries are false. Although only approximately 28% of funds raised go to actual research of ALS, it should be noted that research is only one facet of the organisation’s mission, and that education and awareness of the public, physicians, and researchers, and providing patient support services are also part of the ALS Association mission. Fiscal reporting for the year ending January 31, 2014 shows just 7% of funds went to administration expenses.
Before taking the Ice Bucket Challenge, Chairman Tucker nominated Chairman Clifford LaChappa of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Chairman Anthony Pico of the Viejas
Band of Kumeyaay Indians, and Mike Dee President of the San Diego Padres to take the next challenge.
