BACOLOD CITY, Sept. 10 (PNA) — Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella took the Ice Bucket Challenge to help an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patient from Barangay Yubo, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.
Puentevella, who was nominated by Third District Board Member Patrick Lacson, went through the challenge after leading the launch of the 2014 MassKara Festival Tuesday at the grand lobby of the Bacolod People’s House.
The wife of ALS patient Johar Javelosa, Annalene, and her sister Arlyn Gauran poured water and ice cubes on the mayor who was seated on a chair.
Puentevella said he donated Php4,500 to the Javelosas. The city government also released Php5,000.
Annalene expressed thanks to the Bacolod mayor for his donation even though they are not residents of this city.
Her husband was diagnosed last March and the doctor said he can no longer be cured, she said.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes difficulty in speaking, swallowing and breathing. Patients could die two to five years after diagnosis, research showed.
The ALS Association launched the Ice Bucket Challenge last July to raise funds, which could be used on a research to look for treatment and a cure.
Each person who took the challenge would usually donate USD100.
Donations reportedly reached over USD100 million since the challenge was launched.(PNA)