If you have been on Facebook lately, you have certainly heard of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.  Often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.

I was nominated by Audry Agatone Sorensen to take the challenge.  Audry is a high school friend who has been diagnosed with this terrible disease.  

These were the rules of the Challenge:  Dump a bucket of ice water on your head while recording a video.  Post the video on FB, Twitter, etc.  Nominate someone to take the Challenge.  If you don’t do it within 24 hours, you must donate $100 to ALS, preferably to Audrey’s Team.

The point is to raise both awareness and money.  According to http://www.alsa.org/news/media/press-releases/ice-bucket-challenge-082014.html:

As of Wednesday, August 20, The ALS Association has received $31.5 million in donations compared to $1.9 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 20). These donations have come from existing donors and 637,527 new donors to The Association. 

Click here to access the Donation Page of Audry Agatone Sorensen.

Well, Audry was patient and gracious in awaiting my bucketing!  I had my excuses!  I am on vacation in the amazingly gorgeous town of Kaş, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.  That’s one.  There were no ice cube trays in the rental apartment, although I did bring my own.  Hmmm.  The fridge is small and the freezer tiny.  Making almost two excuses.  The ice cubes that we were successful in making kept turning into cocktails.  Yeah, that’s what happened.  Not an excuse?  We were busy with “adventures”.  Ok, that’s not really an excuse either.

As I said, Audrey was patient and I think she liked the final result which took place in the ice cold waters of the Gizlikent Gorge (near the larger Saklikent Gorge)!