On the night of August 4th, the DAVIS Companies was nominated by Lexi Lemieux (one of our employee’s sisters) of Victoria Station & Vic’s Boathouse, Salem MA to complete the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS awareness. Coming into work the following morning, most of our staff members had no idea that we were challenged, or that we would be answering the challenge that day. In true DAVIS fashion, 21 employees stepped up to the plate to help #StrikeOutALS in honor of local legend Pete Frates. Frates is a former Boston College baseball player who was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2012. Here is the video of our ice bucket challenge!
Media representatives from Charter3 TV and the MetroWest Daily came and covered this event, witnessing DAVIS turn the challenge into a corporate undertaking by challenging five other staffing companies to complete the ice bucket challenge. (View Photos Here)
“We decided that we would donate $100 in the employee’s name for everyone who participated, and we would use our event to challenge several other companies in our industry,” said Brendon Davis, director of business operations.
This campaign has taken social media by storm in the past two weeks, with everyone from celebrities to professional athletes taking the ice bucket challenge to help raise awareness for this debilitating disease.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. When these cells die, voluntary muscle control and movement dies with them. Patients in the later stages of the disease are totally paralyzed, yet in most cases, their minds remain sharp and alert. Below are some facts about ALS and links to donate to the cause.
- Every day, an average of 15 people are newly diagnosed with ALS — more than 5,600 people per year. As many as 30,000 Americans may currently be affected by ALS. Annually, ALS is responsible for two deaths per 100,000 people.
- The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from time of diagnosis. With recent advances in research and improved medical care, many patients are living longer, more productive lives. Half of all those affected live at least three years or more after diagnosis. About 20 percent live five years or more, and up to ten percent will survive more than ten years.
- ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries. ALS can strike anyone. Every single American is threatened by this disease.
For more information and to Donate to ALS research, CLICK HERE.
