Redskins Players, Dan Snyder, Bruce Allen Participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Redskins Players, Dan Snyder, Bruce Allen Participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

A new trend has been “soaking” the nation lately. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has made its way into the mainstream of sports, politicians and media members. With only about half of the general public knowledgeable about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, the Ice Bucket Challenge is making a profound difference. Since July 29, The ALS Association has welcomed more than 70,000 new donors to the cause.

This social media phenomenon known as the “Ice Bucket Challenge” involves dumping a pail of ice cold water over your head and then challenging three other people to do the same within 24 hours. Don’t want to accept the task after being summoned to it? Donate $100 to the ALS Association.

It may seem like a silly social media meme, but it’s making a difference: The ALS Association reports that it, and its 38 chapters, received $4 million in donations in just two weeks. Last year during that same time period, (July 29-August 12), the association brought in $1.1 million.

Currently, there is only one drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ALS, which only modestly extends survival by two to three months. Consequently, ALS is 100 percent fatal. In addition to acclimating to the challenges that come with losing control of voluntary muscle movement, people with the disease progressively lose their ability to eat, speak, walk, and eventually breathe.

Recently several Washington Redskins players including Robert Griffin III, Pierre Garcon, Ryan Kerrigan and DeAngelo Hall have taken part in the challenge. Joining the players this week was team owner Daniel Snyder, GM Bruce Allen, former player Joe Theismann, head coach Jay Gruden and PR director Tony Wylie.

Snyder was challenged by NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr, who was challenged by Pierre Garcon and Ryan Kerrigan.

.@PierreGarcon & @RyanKerrigan91challenged me. @JimmieJohnson @SteveLetarte Dan Snyder you’re up! http://t.co/JCqrDeCfQk #IceBucketChallenge

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) August 15, 2014

Snyder accepted the challenge, and in return challenged Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Snyder also donated a check worth $10,000 to ALS research on behalf of the entire Washington Redskins organization.

Allen challenged the Redskins Cheerleaders, Gruden challenged legendary Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs and left tackle Trent Williams, Theismann challenged former Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, while Wyllie challenged Rich Dalrymple, the Cowboys’ director of public relations. The video of Snyder, Allen, Theismann, Gruden and Wylie is below.

#Redskins Dan Snyder, Bruce Allen, Jay Gruden and Joe Theismann accept the #ALSIceBucketChallenge; donate $10K http://t.co/NYDiXeLrF5

— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) August 15, 2014

Bruce Allen challenged the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders, who had already been challenged by Donald Wells. They in turn challenged the Wizards Girls, Matthew McConaughey, Clinton Portis and the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders Alumni Association. We will update this post as the challenges are accepted/more comes in.

Hail to the Redskins!