The staff of Stettler Veterinary Clinic tried a different spin on the ALS ice bucket challenge last week.
Staff members agreed to subject themselves to a gallon of water for each dollar raised, setting and meeting a goal of $1,000. To sweeten the deal, the staff invited customers and others who donated to come back and douse them with water on the day of the challenge, said veterinarian and clinic co-owner Jackie Dobinson.
“People laughed at that, and did donate,” said Dobinson. “Cumulatively, we’ll have a thousand gallons dumped on us.”
The staff also decorated the clinic’s front window to advertise the challenge and invite people to donate.
Four veterinarians, four technicians and two additional staff members faced the hose on the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 12.
Dobinson’s husband Paul pulled up to the clinic with a thousand gallons of water loaded on a truck and sprayed the crew with a hose while cameras rolled, although he stopped short of emptying the tanks.
The vet clinic was nominated by Brad and Amanda Kelly. Dobinson said the staff was initially reluctant to take the challenge, but later realized it was a small sacrifice compared to the everyday struggles of ALS sufferers.
“That motivated us to get out there and do it with a smile,” she said.
The clinic staff named five nominees to carry on the challenge: LLB Angus, Richmond Ranch, Bar-EL Angus, Chapman Cattle Company and the Stettler Auction Mart.
ALS Canada has reported that it has received more than $12.6 million in donations as a result of the challenge, which exploded over social media across the world this past summer.