School news

East Rockaway administrators take ALS ice bucket challenge

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The ALS Challenge began within the East Rockaway School District administration when Superintendent Lisa Ruiz challenged Laura Guggino, director of PPS, at an administration meeting.

Guggino decided to challenge Athletic Director Dom Vulpis at the opening district-wide staff meeting. Vulpis then went on to challenge the central, high school and elementary school administrators. Those administrators all decided to take the challenge as a team on August 28 and have extended it to others in each school building.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

Donations as a result of the popular Ice Bucket Challenge, which went viral this summer mostly through social media, has raised more than $100 million as of the end of August.

“People have responded with such generosity it is truly remarkable and we couldn’t be more appreciative, said Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of The ALS Association.  “These donations will truly help fuel our fight against ALS in ways that were never before possible.”