INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Becky Harris was elated to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and tearfully nominated a handful of others to follow suit in remembrance of her good friend Aggie Carrano, who passed away from the debilitating disease six years ago.
Harris is one of many Indian River County individuals who have stepped up to accept the challenge and donate to the ALS Association or one of its local chapters.
“I’m over the moon,” Harris said about the challenge receiving worldwide attention over the last several weeks. “This is one of the few terrible things that can happen in someone’s life that has absolutely no cure.”
As of Friday, when Harris and 12 of her girlfriends teamed together in the challenge, the ALS Association had reached $53.3 million in donation over the course of approximately five weeks. By Saturday, that number increased to $62.5 million.
Last year, the organization recorded $2.4 million in the same time period.
Just as touched as Harris was to be joined by her friends in the challenge, she said she was equally inspired by the widespread participation across Vero Beach and the rest of Indian River County.
Harris’ group of girlfriends all have a few things in common: they all grew up in Vero Beach, graduated from Vero Beach High School and now get together once a month for dinner at a locally owned dining establishment. The idea of their monthly meet-ups is two fold: to keep in touch with old friends and to support local business owners.
Now, many of those local business owners are stepping up to support Harris and the cause she feels so strongly about.
Last week, staff at Mr. Manatee’s Restaurant in Vero Beach put themselves up for the challenge with the goal of bringing in other local businesses through nominations. A video appeared on the restaurant’s Facebook calling to action Chili’s restaurant, Mulligan’s Bar and Grill, and Hurricane Wings and Grill all located in Vero Beach.
All three restaurants accepted the challenge and nominated other local establishments.
Not only are more businesses jumping on the ice bucket bandwagon, they are jumping on the donation bandwagon and increasing monetary giving to ALS from Indian River County exponentially.
“We couldn’t just be challenged and not do anything about it,” said Bill Estes, manager at Chili’s Restaurant in Vero Beach.
Chili’s responded to their challenge within 24 hours and in turn nominated neighboring Wilke’s 14 Bones Barbeque, Carrabba’s, and three other Chili’s restaurants on the Treasure Coast.
“Our whole staff was totally up for it and pulled it together overnight. There are 30 of them that participated and each one donated at least $10 to go straight to ALS,” Estes said.
As the madness continues, Harris is just thankful that action is being taken. Action that results in real dollars for real research to find a cure. Action that could rescue thousands of people from experiencing the pain and suffering her friend Aggie Carrano endured six years ago. Action that she believes could save lives.
“At least for once, everyone knows what ALS is,” and that, Harris said, is enough for her.