This ALS Ice Bucket Challenge thing just won’t quit.
The Bryan County Board of Education was the first local government in Bryan County to get in on the fundraiser for ALS research after Thursday’s board meeting at Carver Elementary in Richmond Hill, and issued a challenge to their counterparts in local government.
"We are challenging the Bryan County Board of Commissioners, the city of Pembroke and the Mayor, and the city of Richmond Hill and the Mayor to do the same thing," BoE Chairman Eddie Warren said. They have until their next meeting date to match it or pay $500 as a contribution."
Each of the board members wore black t-shirts with "#CarverRocks" written in yellow across the front.
First to take the challenge was Bryan County Schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Brooksher, who was soaked by Carver Principal Crystal Morales.
It went sideways from there, literally.
Brooksher dumped a bucket of ice water on Warren, who in turn doused vice chairman Joe Pecenka, who then dumped a bucket of water on board member David Schwartz’s head, and so on.
Schwartz doused board member Marianne Smith, who turned around and dumped her bucket of ice water on board member Amy Murphy.
Murphy then dumped water on board member Dennis Seger’s head, and Seger, who is several inches shorter than fellow board member Paine Bacon – "you’re going to have to stoop down some," Seger said, and Bacon complied.
It wasn’t quite over after that, however.
Seger picked up an extra bucket and briefly chased Carver assistant principal David Schultz and then chased Morales inside before sneaking up and dumping the ice water on Warren, who had his back turned and was talking about how he’d bought smaller buckets.
The BoE raised more than $350 by late Thursday night, with more expected, Warren said.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has become something of an internet and social media sensation, and has raised tens of millions for research into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
The idea for the challenge came from former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2012.
Stay tuned.