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EPHRAIM — For one Snow College sophomore, the ice bucket challenge is more than a popular trend.
People lined up to show their support for Kailey Ray on her second day of school.
“I was diagnosed last Friday with ALS and I am striving to stay positive,” Ray said.
Cindy Averett, an adviser at Snow College, received a message on Facebook challenging her to take part in the ice bucket challenge.
“I have a sister who passed away from ALS three years ago,” Averett said. “My heart broke as I thought about my sister and also Kailey who is also facing this.”
Averett came up with a clever idea.
“I went to my boss and said, ‘Would you be willing to do something crazy and be filmed doing the ice challenge?’ Which spread to our office and the cashier’s office, which led to the registrar’s office, which lead to food services and suddenly everyone on campus who knows Kailey and loves her,” Averett said.
After all the buckets were filled with ice cold water, faculty, staff and even the college president stood together with Kailey.
“It’s the spirit of Snow College,” President Gary Carlston said. “If one student has a challenge, we want to help that student. We’re glad we can participate in this and I hope our colleagues at the other institutions will do the same.”
For Kailey and her family, the ice challenge was a big boost in their journey ahead.
“It’s really important,” Kailey said. “Donate — because I need it and everyone else needs it with this disorder.”