Florida Colleges Take Part in ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Folks at the University of South Florida and University of Miami are joining in on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

The movement has swept the nation, with a school superintendent, cops, and even a state governor taking part in the fundraiser to study and investigate the illness, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The USF Neurology department, a regional leader in ALS research, took part in the challenge in a big way. Thirty affiliates, including employees and their family members, participated in the challenge Thursday to raise funds and awareness of the illness.

“We want the funds raised from this kind of event to go to research, which has always been underfunded,” said Gina Rathbun, director of physician and community relations at the USF Physicians Group.

Meanwhile, down at the Miami campus in Coral Gables, Donna Shalala took part in the challenge at a pep rally at the university’s BankUnited Center.

Speaking at Thursday’s Canes Kickoff event celebrating the start of the fall semester, Shalala accepted a challenge from Pascal J. Goldschmidt, dean of the UM Miller School of Medicine.

“I can’t believe I’m going to do this,” Shalala said Thursday, before school mascot Sebastian the Ibis doused the university president in front of thousands of students, faculty and community members.

The ALS Association reported Thursday that it has raised $41.8 million toward the organization’s mission fighting the disease since July.