Local ALS sufferer 'just thrilled' by ice bucket challenge

A local ALS sufferer and his family took the "ice bucket challenge" to the extreme Monday.

The ice bucket challenge meant to raise money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has made its way to Windsor.

The way it works is, someone nominates you for the challenge and you can either choose to do the task, typically on video, and-or donate $100 to an ALS organization.

Monday night in Woodslee a family took on the challenge of pouring a front-end loader's bucket of ice water over their heads to raise awareness about the disorder.

• 'Ice Bucket Challenge' brings millions of dollars to battle ALS
• Ice Bucket Challenge: Charity success story or damaging fad?

Bill Maden suffers from ALS. He was diagnosed with ALS two years ago. He now uses a wheelchair and feeding tube and can no longer speak very well.

He and his nieces and nephews participated in the challenge Monday.

"It's awesome," said Bill Maden's wife Jill Maden. "I think he's just thrilled. He's absolutely thrilled. This is support in the best way, people who love you and they show it by doing stuff like this."

ALS causes muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the body due to the degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons. People who are affected by the disorder eventually lose the ability to initiate and control all voluntary movement.

Jill Maden says the ice bucket challenge is raising awareness and helps people like her husband.

"People pay attention," she said. "And when they pay attention then they become aware of what's going on and donations are important for stuff like this."

The ice bucket challenge began as a competitive pursuit among professional golfers to draw awareness to ALS. Now the it has swept North American social media and is translating into millions of dollars in new donations to battle the disease.

The ALS Association said Monday it has received $15.6 million in donations since July 29, an eight-fold spike over the $1.8 million donated during the same period last year.

The family will also be donating money to charity in honour of Maden.