Ice, ice, baby: Former Arizona Diamondbacks complete ALS ice bucket challenge
Aug 27, 2015, 6:49 PM
(Twitter/Arizona Diamondbacks)
(Twitter/Arizona Diamondbacks)
PHOENIX — Two former Arizona Diamondbacks got a little wet for a good cause Thursday at Chase Field.
Luis Gonzalez and J.J. Putz joined doctors from the Barrow Neurological Institute and employees of Chase Bank to take part in the ALS I Ice Bucket Challenge, jumping in the Diamondbacks’ pool after being doused with ice water.
Hey @Yankees, #ALSIceBucketChallenge accepted. ✔ Craig Counsell & the @Brewers are up next! #EveryAugustUntilACure https://t.co/FhtWTPe3jI
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 27, 2015
The D-backs were responding to a challenge from the New York Yankees. In turn, Gonzalez challenged the Milwaukee Brewers and their manager, former D-back teammate Craig Counsell.
“Every team (in Major League Baseball) is challenging another team,” Gonzalez said. “We figured there’s no better person than Craig Counsell and the Milwaukee Brewers to challenge to step up to the plate next and be the next team to go with the ALS challenge.”
All 30 clubs in the MLB will be participating in the fundraising program, donating $100,000 total to the ALS Foundation. In addition, Chase Bank has donated $10,000 to Barrow as part of the Diamondback’s event.
Diamondbacks Vice President Debbie Castaldo said the team wants fans to join in on the fundraising effort.
“We recommend that our fans give to the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, which is a world class organization, or to the local ALS chapter,” she said.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge went viral last summer, sparking discussion and awareness to the progressive neurodegenerative disease.
ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, causes motor neutrons throughout the body to shut down, causing the brain to lose control of muscle movement.
It seemed like everyone took place in last year’s worldwide fundraising event, from Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton to former President George W. Bush, raising more than $200 million to find a cure.
The Diamondbacks are one of the many organizations who pledged to take part in the challenge every August until a cure is found.
