PIERREFONDS, Que. – A West Island football team has taken the “ice bucket challenge” — a viral senstaion that is raising funds and awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Participants pour a bucket of ice-cold water over their head, record the event, share it on social media, and call on others to endure the same. The challenge includes making a cash donation.
READ MORE: Ice bucket challenge providing “great public awareness” of ALS
On Saturday, Coach Derek and his Hurricanes — a pee-wee football team on the West Island — took up the challenge.
The Alexander Park football team raised funds and awareness for the disease that is very near and dear to Coach Derek’s heart.
“Unfortunately my older brother has been stricken with ALS for the last eight years and it’s very close to our family,” he said.
Coach Derek’s brother, Michael Soles, is a former star football player himself.
When playing for the McGill University Redmen from 1986 to 1989, Soles was a three-time all-star player and winner of the Vanier Cup.
Soles was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in 1989 and won the Grey Cup in 1993.
He finished his career in his hometown with the Montreal Alouettes where he won the Lew Hayman Trophy in 1996 for best Canadian player in the East.
Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS gradually paralyzes the body. There is no known cure or effective treatment for the disease.
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