On Wednesday, August 20, just before noon Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, president, Loma Linda University Health (LLUH), accepted the ice bucket challenge in support of ALS research.
Flanked by Drayson Center lifeguards and reclining in a red pool chair, Dr. Hart said that he was accepting the challenge from Daniel Handysides, DrPH, assistant professor, LLU School of Public Health, in support of ALS. “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS as we call it,” he said, “is a debilitating disease of the nervous system that can result in death. I am willing to make a significant contribution to its cause.”
Hart chose to accept the challenge at the Drayson Center pool. “I am doing it here for two reasons,” he said, “first, the drought in California. Let’s use water where we can recycle it into our swimming pool here at the Drayson Center; andsecondly, in respect for the work I have the privilege of doing in developing countries where women typically spend up to half of theirdaylight hours carrying water. Water is a very precious resource and I want to mention that in this setting.
“Finally, the only thing I don’t like to do is get my hair wet but I guess we’re ready. “
On cue, Michael Rister, Drayson Center manager for aquatics, doused Hart with an ice and water from an Igloo cooler.
As the gathered crowd shouted, “Yes” and cheered, Hart stood and turned to reveal his Vision 2020 T-shirt.
Hart has challenged Kevin Lang, MBA, executive vice president, chief financial officer, LLUH; Kerry Heinrich, interim CEO, Loma Linda University Medical Center; and Rod Neal, MBA, senior vice president for finance, Loma Linda University, to take the #alsicebucketchallenge #icebucketchallenge #strikeoutals.
Video of Dr. Hart’s ice bucket challenge has been posted to the LLUH Facebook page, and has been “liked” 531 times and shared 104 times, as of lunchtime Thursday. Go to Facebook to check it out, and like the LLUH page if you haven't yet.