Pace High School gets chilly for ALS

Kendall Bobarge, Pace High senior, has a direct connection to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Her aunt, Elaine Burgess, passed away from the rapidly debilitating disease three years ago. Her father’s sister, the oldest of 5, Bobarge said, was diagnosed at 56 and passed on at 59. While this event differed from a standard ice bucket challenge, Bobarge said she feels connected to her aunt through the challenge. “I can feel uncomfortable for a few minutes knowing she was uncomfortable all the time.” The shirt Bobarge wore was from a March 12, 2011 walk for ALS in Burgess’ home town of Tampa. “My family’s all done it [the ice bucket challenge]. We donate all the time,” Bobarge said.

In a twist on the popular ice bucket challenge, roughly 35 Pace students got soaked from the fire department’s ladder hose to raise money for a cure for ALS.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pace High School gets chilly for ALS