Worcester, MA --- The Worcester State field hockey team and athletic director Michael Mudd have joined the nationwide movement to help spread the word about ALS and the "Ice Bucket Challenge."

Late on Wednesday afternoon, the Worcester State field hockey team answered the call of the UMass Dartmouth field hockey squad by particpating in the challenge. The Lancers called out Worcester State Athletic Director Michael Mudd, the three members of the athletic training staff and the WSU sports information director.

Mudd responded on Sunday by asking Worcester State Deputy Director of Athletics John Meany, Dean of Student Affairs Julie Kazarian and new men's ice hockey coach Shayne Toporowski to participate. Mudd also referenced his family freind, Mr. West, at the beginning of the video, who is currently battling ALS.

You can click on both videos, which have been posted below.

Those who were elected to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge have 24 hours to respond or they must donate $100 to The ALS Association. Those who do take the challenge, only have to write out a check for $10.

Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease", is a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of these neurons eventually leads to death. 

Approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. The incidence of ALS is two per 100,000 people, and it is estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans may have the disease at any given time.

Pictured Top: (Top Row) Erika Lepkowski, Julie O'Rourke, Alli Baker, Megan Ripke, Taylor Ledwith and Morgan Cooper; (Middle Row) Krissy Kenney, Jourdan Childs, Meghan Pini, Victoria Watkins, Katelyn Abber; (Bottom Row) Kelli McPherson

About ALS | Quick Facts