Hi, y'all!

My name is Kim Townsend, and let me begin by saying that  I  DO NOT have ALS.  My baby brother, Clint (a.k.a. "Pig"), however, does.

Odds are that the reason you're even on this page is either directly or indirectly due to the overwhelming popularity of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.  True, it has become a viral social phenomenon and has raised a LOT of money for research for a cure for the this hideous disease, but on the other hand, I've seen a down-side to it, as well.  As a matter of fact, it actually inspired me to take action, though perhaps not in the way you might imagine...

For the last three-plus years, I've lived with my brother and his (now) fifteen year-old daughter.  In short, I've noticed that there are many of the younger generation who have been more than happy to accept a friend's challenge, in turn making a challenge to other friends, and then pour a bucket of ice water on their own heads while someone takes (and then posts) the video footage.     The End.   There's no discussion about the disease, no donation made to help fund research... nothing.  No, wait!   I have seen a couple of kids yell, "ALS - WOO HOO!!" seconds before they doused themselves with ice water.

"ALS - "WOO HOO"?!!  

Hello?!   Did I miss something here?

The last time I checked, ALS is considered one of the fastest-acting fatal neuromuscular diseases that mankind knows of.   "WOO HOO"?!  REALLY?!     Hmmmmm....

It was this kind of casual, non-chalant attitude that really got me to thinking that I needed to do something to change this mentality... but I didn't know what.   At first.

Then, a lightbulb went off in my head and I thought, "Well, I could always just talk to some teenagers and explain what ALS is, or (better yet) show what has happened to my brother."    Now, to back up a bit, I'll just tell you in a nutshell what my brother was like pre-ALS:  a Tasmanian Devil! He has always been fast-paced, high energy, vivacious, energetic, funny, VERY physically active, hilarious, lively, and like my own, personal Robin Williams.  He's quick-witted, expressive, animated, full of accents and silliness... just a lot of fun to be around!    In fact, if you'd like to read more about him, here's the link to his bio page for the Walk to Defeat ALS:

http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/Texas?team_id=320673&pg=team&fr_id=10266

 

Back to my saga...

 

Anyway, I decided to approach the Headmaster, Dr. Ron Taylor, and Principal, Mr. Robert Huckabee, at my niece's school (Heritage Christian Academy) and make a proposal.  They were so kind and welcoming, and completely agreed that there seems to be a disconnect with many young people as to WHY they're pouring ice water on their heads, and how it has become the 'popular/trendy' thing to do rather than a clever fundraising activity that actually educates folks about the disease at the same time.

I asked if they'd be willing to have someone come out and visit with the students about ALS during one of their Chapel assemblies (which they agreed to), and then I went for my BIG idea:  

What if... (once the kids actually know something about the disease)... we were to hold a MASS ALS Ice Bucket Challenge during halftime at an upcoming home football game?!  (At this point, we still haven't had a HOME game - yet, but Homecoming is this Friday, October 10th).  Since Homecoming's halftime is automatically devoted to the Homecoming Court and festivities, we agreed that the second home game - on Friday, October 17th - would be an ideal time to have a mass Ice Bucket Challenge.

Dr. Taylor and Mr. Huckabee said that we'll need to make announcements about the event during the Homecoming game, and I volunteered to make some fake "commercials" (complete with music and sound effects, etc.) to be played during time-outs at the Homecoming game.  I hope everyone enjoys them, because they sure were fun to record!  My dear friend, Danny Lozano, helped me with the dramatization and scripts, and another friend, Andy Porter, did the actual recording.  Andy is about to begin his studies in audio engineering at Belmont University in Nashville come January, and is VERY talented!

After that, you'd think that everything was set to go, right?!   Well, apparently I can't leave well-enough alone...

I thought it would be cool if we were to involve not only spectators, students, parents, and faculty/staff in the ice bucket challenge, but what if we were to get some local officials and celebrities to join in, as well?!  THAT would be noteworthy!   So... I started making calls and immediately enlisted the help of Rockwall Fire Chief, Mark Poindexter, and soon had Rockwall Mayor David Sweet on board to get doused!

Because I was having trouble reaching folks in the upper levels of government, I thought maybe I could tell their secretaries that we're trying to break a world record with this event to pique their interest.  But first, I needed to see if it was even a possibility.   I checked the Guinness Book of World Records and discovered that, sure enough, there actually IS a record set for "the most people pouring ice water on their heads" and I was SHOCKED to read that the number of participants wasn't in the tens of thousands.  It was four hundred and twenty eight.  Yes, only  428!!  Well, THAT'S just too simple and completely do-able, y'all!  Heck, we could get more Texans than that to show up just for a platter of bar-b-q, so I contacted Guinnes World Records and began the application process... and THEN resumed calling folks!  We've had some terrific responses:

Shane Moore, the General Manager at Home Depot, has graciously offered to loan us buckets, the Fire Chief said they'll add water to buckets, and John Kotrofi of "Twice the Ice" is supplying us with the ice!   Talented artist, Steven Brock, designed the incredible looking posters, and Jim Koch at Kwik Kopy has generously provided posters, flyers, and printing services so we can get the word out!

We need to let people with ALS know that they're not alone.... and, sadly, my stinky brother isn't the only one in Rockwall County with this dianosis.  As a matter of fact, a new friend of ours, Mary Kirk, just lost her husband, Dick, to this horrific disease only two weeks ago.   ALS affects more than nerve cells and muscles, it affects families, friends, co-workers, and communities.  

With no known cause or cure, ALS challenges the human spirit and tests the courage of everyone touched by this devastating disease.  Just for a moment, please try to put yourself in one of these scenarios:

 A)  Your doctor breaks the news that YOU have this disease.  You ask what you can do... take a pill?  Chemo?  Surgery?  The doctor says, "Actually... all I can suggest is that you get your affairs in order and get plenty of rest.  Try NOT to lose weight; eat and drink what you want and take plenty of naps.   Oh!  And you'll probably experience inexplicable, uncontrollable fits of laughing or crying... but at least you won't be in any pain."    

Or...  

B)  Imagine sitting in the doctor's office with ______ (pick one: your spouse, your grown child, your best friend, your favorite co-worker).  The doctor announces that this person whom you absolutely adore  has ALS.  You ask how your loved one got it and he says we don't know.  He says it's incurable, fatal, and (statistically) you can expect this person to be dead in two to five years AT MOST (though occasionally there are exceptions).  Now, how would YOU feel having heard this news?!   Like you've been kicked in the stomach?  Helpless?  Desperate?  

I know.   That's exactly how I feel about my brother, how my parents feel about their son, my niece feels about her father, and our friends feel about Clint.     THAT is why I'm so determined to actually raise awareness about ALS and funding for research so that scientists and doctors can figure out how to fix this!!!   It makes me sick in my heart knowing that the odds are that even if a cure is found, it most likely will be AFTER my brother has passed... but, it warms my heart to think that there may be a 'fix' in place if/when (God forbid) someone YOU know or loves is rocked to their core by getting this terrifying and terminal diagnosis.

Your gifts will make this possible.  Please click the donation button to the right and give generously.

By the way, it appears that our attempt to break the World Record has been blessed with so much abundance that it became necessary to change the date, time AND place (see below)!

Thank you for helping us break a World Record that actually has meaning and purpose behind it!

 

 

So, grab your wallet, a bucket, towel, and please help us break the current Guinness World Record for the "most people pouring ice water on their head" simultaneously!

Saturday, October 25th

Williams Middle School football field

 625 E. FM 552   (Hwy 205 & FM 552)

Rockwall, TX   75087

 

Take care and God bless you,

 

Kim  (Clint's / a.k.a. Pig's sister)

 

kim@kimtownsend.net

c (405) 823-6719

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