**August 2014**
Watch "chilling" video of our Ice Bucket Challenge [here][1].
See "chilling" photos of our Ice Bucket Challenge [here][2].
The team at The **University National Bank** took an unconventional cold shower on Friday morning to raise awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Accepting the **#IceBucketChallenge**, the viral campaign that has swept the nation, employees at UNB stood under a skid loader of ice-cold water. After officially accepting the #IceBucketChallenge, and further extending the challenge on to other Lawrence businesses, the ice water unloaded in a waterfall on to the employees. The University National Bank dedicated the challenge to longtime-friend and Lawrence businessman, Hiram Salvini, who lost his battle with ALS earlier this year.
Since its inception just a month ago, the #IceBucketChallenge has boosted awareness and donations for the ALS Association. According to www.alsa.org, in a year-to-year comparison, donations have risen from $1.4 million to $7.6 million. ALS Association has seen an increase of 145,198 in donors.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease and affects the brain and the spinal cord. As neuros degenerate and die off, patients of ALS lose their ability to move and speak, and the disease eventually leads to total paralysis and death. The average life expectancy for a patient of ALS is two to five years. Currently, there is only one FDA-approved drug for treatment.
For more information on the #IceBucketChallenge or to learn how you can donate to the ALS Association, visit [alsa.org][3]
[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6xrH1UAr9c
[2]: http://www2.ljworld.com/marketplace/businesses/university-national-bank-of-lawrence/photos/#16238
[3]: http://alsa.org
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