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Mike Meyer, GHS crew respond to brother's ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
As the oldest of the four sons of Ed and Mary Ann Meyer of Greencastle, Mike Meyer certainly has never been one to shy away from a challenge.
So when brother Pete, the athletic director at Florida Southern University, issued a wet and wild one this week, the Greencastle High School teacher and assistant football coach wasn't about to back down. In fact, he decided to bring some friends and fellow coaches along for the ride Tuesday evening as they accepted the popular ALS Ice Bucket Challenge while standing on the metal bleachers in front of the big purple "G" at Robert L. Harbison Stadium.
"Pete called out his brother from Florida on Facebook," GHS Principal Russ Hesler explained before joining Meyer, new GHS football coach Ryan Spoonmore and assistant basketball coach Rob York to complete the icy challenge after Tuesday's football practice.
After responding to his brother's dare, Mike Meyer called out Hesler, his old defensive coach when Meyer played football for the Tiger Cubs, as well as new coach Spoonmore and York, a local businessman, volunteer coach and GHS grad.
The GHS contingent offered extra motivation in accepting the challenge, doing so on behalf of 1985 Greencastle graduate Robert Sedlack, a track man and football player who helped organize the John Fallis Field dedication in 2011.
Since speaking at the football occasion, Sedlack -- a Notre Dame professor and the son of longtime Greencastle residents Bob and Ellen Sedlack -- has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease.
As his wife and fellow GHS faculty member Brenda Meyer videoed the event to put on Facebook, Meyer called out Ron Beaschler, wrestling coach and department chairman at Ohio Northern University (they share a common friend and former ONU athlete who lost his battle to ALS); Brian Cochran, football coach at John Carroll University; and Dwayne Pavcovich at Mahoning Valley High School in Ohio.
Hesler, in turn, called out former Tiger Cub football quarterbacks Chris and Cary Hutchings.
Tiger Cub boss Spoonmore issued a challenge to Eric Moore, head coach at Center Grove High School where he had been an assistant since 2000 before accepting the GHS reins, as well as to Russ Gibson of Louisville and Franklin College football coach Mike Leonard (also a former teammate of Meyer's at Hanover College). York, meanwhile, challenged his brother, Nick York, and others.
The challenge means that those called out have 24 hours to dump a frigid bucket of ice water over their heads or donate $100 to the ALS Association.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by muscle spasticity, rapidly progressive weakness due to muscle atrophy, difficulty in speaking, swallowing and breathing (dyspnea).
Experts say the Ice Bucket Challenge has gone viral because it combines something fun and tactile -- dumping ice water over your head -- with the availability and digital reach of social media.
Ever since pro
golfer Greg Norman challenged "Today Show" host Matt Lauer to toss an ice bucket over his head in July to raise money for the Hospice of Palm Beach, the Ice Bucket Challenge has become a social media and media sensation.
Since the challenge was issued by the ALS Association on July 29 to raise awareness and funds for the organization, an estimated $23 million has been donated as public figures and celebrities from Justin Timberlake to Jimmy Fallon to Ethel Kennedy have accepted the
challenge.