Jasperite Crystal Rhayn took a chilly challenge Aug. 24, when she trekked to the Athabasca Glacier to dump a bucket of glacier water on her head.
The dousing was Rhayn’s take on the ice bucket challenge, a viral video campaign in which participants nominate friends to dump a bucket of ice water over their heads, to help raise awareness and money for ALS research.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is more commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” It’s a degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons that allow people to control their muscles slowly “die,” causing gradual paralysis of the entire body.
Since ALS attacks only motor neurons, their sense of sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell are not affected, effectively imprisoning sufferers in their own bodies.
The average lifespan for someone diagnosed with ALS is as short as 1-5 years.
Most people who take the ice bucket challenge also donate money to help fund ALS research, and the viral popularity of the challenge has put ALS more prominently into the public consciousness.
Rhayn, who was challenged by fellow Jasperite Christina MacMamara, raised about $250 for her challenge. She said about 100 people were on hand when she doused herself, and that “it felt like the water was going through my skin.”
