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Wilmingtonians take Ice Bucket Challenge [Star-News, Wilmington, N.C. :: ](Star-News (Wilmington, NC) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 18--"Jesus, take the wheel!" That squawk was unleashed by Wilmington thespian Jeff Phillips on Sunday as he went through with "The Ice Bucket Challenge," during which he voluntarily dumped a bucket of ice water on his own head. An informal fundraising effort for the ALS Association that's spread virally through the Internet in recent weeks, it's a national trend that has seen lots of local participation. The reaction of Phillips, and those of thousands of others in video clips shared on Facebook (where Phillips posted his Challenge after being goaded by a friend) and other social networks, has brought a wave of donations to the ALS Association, which has seen totals soar from $1.8 million in 2013 to $15.6 million in 2014 over the same July 29-Aug. 18 time period. "This is the kind of media coverage and awareness that we have dreamed about for years," said Megan Johnson, senior development coordinator for the local ALS Association chapter. "There are people who have never heard about ALS and are talking about it. Think about it -- when else have you heard Oprah, Bill Gates and Justin Timberlake all talking about the same thing that wasn't a natural disaster?" Celebrities like Lady Gaga have been joined by politicians, all manner of athletes and local luminaries in the splashy craze. Sopping Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane issued an icy order to Durham Mayor Bill Bell and Huntersville Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt, who have since posted videos of their own. In Wilmington, cast members from Opera House Theatre Company's production of "Kiss Me, Kate" took the plunge on the steps of Thalian Hall. Former Major League Baseball slugger and WWAY sports analyst Trot Nixon got soaked on camera. In theory, the challenge works something like this: Once issued the dare, a person can either soak themselves or buy their way out of suffering with a donation. In practice, many of the freshly doused victims are already prepared to give. "I do have several friends who have been impacted by ALS and are currently living with that. It's a very real thing," Phillips said. "Not only did I do the Ice Bucket Challenge, but I also donated money to the charity as well." Like any trend that takes the web by storm, the backlash has been swift. Facing charges of crimes as varied as wasting water and self-promotion, participants are largely shrugging off the cranks. "I think we always have to look at any kind of issue or event with the spirit or intention for which it was established," Phillips said. "The intent of this is so strong and the call to action is so noble, that I think that overrides those types of things." Plans for the windfall are already in place at the ALS Association, with existing services seeing expansions and $3.5 million heading to top scientists to fund 21 new projects. A progressively degenerative condition commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis costs an average of $200,000 per individual yearly to treat -- or an estimated $256 to $433 million on a national scale, according to 2013 numbers from the Muscular Dystrophy Association. "This is an expensive disease to fight. This is an expensive disease to live with, and this is a disease we need to stop," Johnson said. "We're $15 million closer to that today than we were (last month)." Paul Stephen: 343-2041 On Twitter: @pauljstephen ___ (c)2014 the Star-News (Wilmington, N.C.) Visit the Star-News (Wilmington, N.C.) at www.starnewsonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |