CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — A local firefighter seems pretty convinced that Vice President Joe Biden is willing to step up to take the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS.
The awareness campaign for amyotropic lateral sclerosis, or ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, has become a viral social media sensation as people douse themselves with a bucket of ice water and then challenge others to do the same.
Retired Chesterfield Battalion Chief, and current Middlesex Fire Chief Mark Nugent was nominated by Middlesex Sheriff David Bushey, and Nugent accepted — and then he went big. But first he handed off a check for $100, making it clear that you can get drenched in icy water and still donate. Forget the naysayers.
“Joe,you’ve been a big supporter of the fire service, and I’m challenging you in support of the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. So Mr. Vice-President if you want to take this challenge, please do. I will be glad to come up there and dump that bucket of water on you if you decide to do this,” Nugent said.
It’s doubtful Biden will take him up on it, seeing as he was also challenged by fictional VP Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who plays the vice president on the HBO comedy series Veep.
Instead, the Vice President said via Twitter that has made a donation “in honor of my late friend.”
More than $41 million dollars have been raised for ALS, compared to $2 million during the same period last year.
President Barack Obama passed on pouring freezing water over his head and made a donation instead.
Former President George W. Bush challenged his predecessor, Bill Clinton.
**reporting from CNN Wire was used in this story.
