BRONZEVILLE — The head of the Chicago Urban League said she was encouraged to take the ice bucket challenge after learning that the mother of an employee was battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis often referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.
So on Friday Andrea Zopp, president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, was joined by board members and employees including Roderick Hawkins, whose 63-year-old mother was diagnosed in 2013 with ALS.
"This is a cause worth fighting for and I want to do what I can to help raise awareness and money for research," Zopp said before having a bucket of ice water poured on her. "When I found out that Roderick's mother had been diagnosed with the disease, it made me want to do more to help."
Hawkins, vice president of external affairs for the urban league, said he was grateful for the support from everyone and said his mother, Lilly Cade, was in good spirits and doing well back home in Louisiana.
"People need to know that black folks get ALS, too. It is not a disease just affecting whites, but everyone," said Hawkins. "My mother is a fighter and she refuses to let this get her down."
Zopp challenged Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, as well as fellow urban league chapter leaders to also take the ice bucket challenge.
“I will also be making a donation to the ALS Association in honor my colleague Roderick Hawkins’ mother and the many others who are dealing with this disease," added Zopp.
Julie Sharpe, executive director of the ALS Association of Greater Chicago Chapter, was on hand to witness Zopp take the ice bucket challenge. Like Hawkins, the disease with no cure has also affected her family.
"I lost my sister-in-law to ALS last November. It is a disease that suffocates you from within," Sharpe said. "Every ice bucket challenge makes a difference. My 90-year-old mother took the ice bucket challenge (last) Sunday."
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