The City of Valdosta leadership has accepted the Ice Challenge—the charitable phenomenon that is raising awareness for the neurodegenerative disorder Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as the Lou Gehrig’s disease. 

Valdosta City Manager Larry Hanson and city department heads will take the challenge on Friday, August 22, at 11 a.m., at the Valdosta Fire Department Station #1, located at 106 S. Oak Street.  Valdosta Firefighters will have the privilege of dumping buckets of ice water on the city leaders for a good cause. 

The VFD will be accepting donations from department heads who opt out of the challenge and from any other city employee or citizen who would like to make a donation of $5 or more for the cause.  All money collected will be donated to the ALS. 

This is not the first time that City of Valdosta leadership and city employees have participated in a worthy cause, as the organization participates regularly in a number of ongoing charities—such as the Greater Valdosta United Way, the American Heart Association Heart Walk and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, etc.—being involved and raising thousands of dollars annually for charities and their missions.

Contact the city’s Public Information Office at (229) 259-3548 for details about the local event; or for more information about the ALS foundation, visit www.alsa.org.