The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge made its way to the Braves’ dugout Friday.
First baseman Freddie Freeman accepted the challenge from his brother Andrew and was doused by a large bucket of freezing water. Teammate Chris Johnson did the honors from atop of the dugout. Freeman then issued a challenge to teammate Jason Heyward and all three of the organization’s recent National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees in Bobby Cox, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. Heyward immediately stepped up and was soaked by Johnson.
The Ice Bucket Challenge has recently swept the nation as a way to bring awareness and donations to help fight the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The challenge is to pour a bucket of ice water over one’s head and challenge others do the same or make a donation to fight ALS within 24 hours.
“It’s for a great cause,” Freeman said.
Johnson climbed atop the Braves dugout and had the buckets handed up to him – by Freeman and Heyward. He was right on the money with his pours, causing Freeman to lose his breath. Freeman has had ice water dumped on him before but that came after a game-winning hit.
“You can kind of feel or see someone coming,” Freeman said prior event. “But I’m just going to be standing there and just waiting. Knowing (Chris Johnson) he is going to wait a few seconds and make me panic a little bit.”
Several other Braves players took part in separate challenges. David Carpenter, Craig Kimbrel and Jordan Walden accepted the challenge and dumped a bucket of ice water over their own heads.
According to the ALS Association, over $5 million has been donated to ALS-related charities since July 29 and more than a million videos have been posted on social media sites of ceremonial water dumpings. Ethel Kennedy, Bill Gates, Justin Timberlake and the Patriots football are some of the others who have been doused for the cause.
