Grantham Academy Panthers Celebrate First Pep Rally and Take the Ice Bucket Challenge

Disponible en:

Grantham Academy recently celebrated the first pep rally of the football and basketball season. But the students and staff also celebrated in true Panther tradition. Their “Paws for a Cause” had staff taking the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness and funds for ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year.

A part of the ticket sales went toward ALS research. Coach Patrick James, band director Mark Dávila along with counselors Sabrina Shields-Taylor and Rita Hernández served as good sports. They all took the buckets of cold ice water for the challenge.

“We took one for the team,” said Shields-Taylor. “It was all in good fun and a great cause.”

Student Reynaldo Najera gives Kenworthy a hug of support.

Guest speaker Linda Kenworthy was the highlight of the event. She is a former physical education teacher from Humble ISD and personal friend of one of our staff members. Kenworthy was diagnosed with ALS two months ago. ALS has affected her speech but that did not stop her from addressing the students.

“She told her story to the students and it truly brought home what ALS is all about,” said Shields-Taylor. “She also shared with them how proud she was to see young people giving towards research to find a cure for ALS.”

Grantham Academy’s donations will go toward Dr. Stanley H. Appel. He is working to find a cure for ALS at [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Houston Methodist Neurological Institute.