Senior Rhodes administrative staff took on the ice bucket challenge on the University campus on Friday 5 September.
Senior Rhodes administrative staff took on the ice bucket challenge on the University campus on Friday 5 September.
Special Projects director Susan Smailes told Grocott's Mail that the University of Johannesburg Accounts Department had nominated the Rhodes Accounts Department in the challenge, in which the person nominated allows a bucket of icy water to be thrown over them, to raise awareness for motor neurone disease, or ALS.
Sponsors donate money that goes to researching a cure for the disease.
Smales was nominated on behalf of the Rhodes vice-chancellor's office. She in turn nominated the entire Rhodes masters rowing crew, as well as the acting director of student affairs, Colleen Vassiliou.
The Rhodes participants gathered outside the administration block shortly after midday to take on the challenge.
Started in the US, the Ice Bucket Challenge has spread to other countries.
It is taken in support of people suffering from motor neuron disease, a group of progressive neurological disorders that destroy motor neurons. These are the cells that control essential voluntary muscle activity such as speaking, walking, breathing and swallowing.
Rhodes University, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the University of Johannesburg have all participated.
Vassiliou said, “I think it’s a worthy cause because we’re not only participating but also raising funds. Also, the students have joined in and it’s happening nationwide.”
Smailes said the challenge was like a chain effect.
"Every time someone is nominated to do the challenge they get to nominate someone else," Smales said.
“It started out with a person donating R100. If you did not want to donate, you took the ice bucket challenge.
"Now you do both,” said Smailes.
Former Springbok scrum-half Joost van de Westhuizen was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in May 2011. He recently took part in the ice bucket challenge.
The funds raised will go towards research for a cure.
