You've seen the videos uploaded to social media sites of celebrities, President George W. Bush, and even friends taking part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Everyone's getting behind the campaign to raise awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis a/k/a Lou Gehrig's Disease and fund research to help battle the incurable disease. Louisville's Churchill Downs recently stepped up to the test, but put a very Kentuckian spin on the challenge.
Churchill Downs is the home of the Kentucky Derby and its signature drink, the Mint Julep. Race fans and party-goers traditionally partake of the Bourbon, mint and simple syrup concoction every year during Kentucky Derby week (or for regulars, any time when at the racetrack). So, it only seems fitting that the folks from Churchill Downs would turn the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge into an Ice Mint Julep Bucket Challenge.
In addition to donating $1,000 to the ALS, Churchill Downs nominated sister tracks Arlington Park in Chicago, Ill., Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, La., along with the Kentucky HBPA and the PGA Championship. These organizations have twenty-four hours to ante up and complete the challenge.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is quickly making it rounds across the country. In just over three weeks, the ALS Association has received over $41.8 million from donations, largely due to the overwhelming success of the Ice Bucket Challenge. During the same time period last year the ALS Association received only $2.1 million in donations.
To learn more about the disease or what you can do to help raise awareness, visit the ALS website.
Photo: Churchill Downs
