Neiman’s Family Market Store Director John Schmidt and Lori Mouser readied themselves for the buckets full of ice and cold water from their coworkers as they participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge, Aug. 19.
“I don’t like they sneak up on us,” Schmidt laughed as the employees neared closer.
Within a few seconds, the once dry Mouser and Schmidt were drenched with cold water in front of Neiman’s Family Market, off White Lake Road and Dixie Highway.
“That was good,” Schmidt smiled, soaked with water. “I feel like a Labrador retriever.”
They proudly took the challenge when they were named.
“I kind of liked it,” Schmidt said when he received the challenge. “I like the challenge. I was looking forward to it and glad I got the challenge.”
He gave the department heads the task to make the water as cold as they could. He also spread the challenge to his fellow store directors in Alpena, Tawas, and St. Clair.
When Mouser recieved the challenge, she thought it would be fun.
“I was wondering how my best friend could do that to me,” she smiled. “I’m glad I was able to do it here. I asked if I could do it when I got off work and they said John was doing it when he got off work. I thought, even better.”
The challenge has swept the nation, raising money to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“It is to bring awareness and gain donations for research for it,” said Schmidt. “The first I had seen it was a month ago. It has been going on heavy. Maybe we’ll get some more in Clarkston.”
Once challenged, the person has 24 hours to douse themselves with cold water on video, pass the challenge to more people, and/or make donations. As of Tuesday morning, ALS has raised $88.5 million for research. Visit www.alsa.org.