Barbara Lawlor, Peak to Peak.  The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has become the rage of the summer, escalating in mid-August. All over the country people are pouring buckets of ice water over their heads or having others do it to them. There is the eye squint, the grimace, the clenched fists, and then the splash and spray and clunks of ice cubes and H2O crashing on top of a head, pouring down the back of the neck. For a moment, there is no breathing and then the squeal as the cold sinks in.

This past week, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge hit the Nederland/Gilpin County area and another chunk of money was donated to the already huge sum of $110,500,000 received as of September 8.

Children and adults from The Nederland Middle Senior High School and employees from Roy's Last Shot submitted themselves to the freezing shower to help research and find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, the debilitating disease that leaves the brain intact but the body unable to control muscle function.

The response to the challenge has been phenomenal all over the world. If every school or business accepted the challenge, at $5 a bucket, it could be the end of the tragic, devastating disease that has been described as the unspoken disease. The money raised from the challenge also helps offset the astronomical costs of living with the disease.

NMSHS principal Adam Fels and Athletic Director Jack Taylor were the first to offer their heads to the challenge and a handful of volunteers and students added to the numbers. The Panther cheerleaders were happy to wield the buckets during the half-time of Saturday's home football game. The courage of the donors was remarkable and the crowd, high and dry, cheered them on. Not only did Fels and Taylor feel the icy drench once, they also staunchly volunteered for a second and third time.

At least it wasn't raining.

On Monday afternoon, Roy's Last Shot employees, on their day off, met at the restaurant parking lot and, carrying buckets of various sizes, poured the water over their heads and each others, some of them twice.

Kathy Morrison did it to her son Anders, and then Kathy and Jen Koltz anointed bartender Gary Price, and then Nolan Turner and Nicole Straub gave Kathy and Jen a solid sopping.

Gary said the Last Shot employees had been challenged by Steve Grapes of Black Diamond to enter the challenge.

"ALS is a horrible disease and little has been done to find a cure. I can't imagine being locked in your body like that," said Gary.

All of the employees got a shot of their choice before they were drenched.

"It wasn't really that bad," said Jen afterward. "But let's get inside where it's warm."

The Last Shot employees said they now extend the challenge to Pioneer Inn employees, Stage Stop employees, Timberline Fire Protection District volunteers, and Underground Liquor staff.

Let the games begin.