https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeOiYF0f_e0
By his own admission, Oak Park and River Forest High School head baseball coach Chris Ledbetter isn’t a social media guy. However, when the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge (a charitable campaign raising awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, aka ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, where people video themselves being doused in ice water and challenge others to do the same) went viral, he was amazed at its immediate and widespread impact.
Obviously, he wasn’t the only one blown away by the highly publicized campaign.
“We are seeing 10 times the number of online donations every day,” Carol Hamilton, development director of the ALS Therapy Development Institute, told the Boston Herald earlier this month. “We are seeing an incredible number of people who didn’t know much about ALS last week and who do today.”
When Ledbetter was nominated by Dr. Kevin Skinkis, superintendent at Riverside-Brookfield High School, and Jon Kirsch, an assistant basketball coach at OPRF to take part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Ledbetter decided to involve others.
Consequently, the OPRF baseball program hosted the challenge on Sunday at the varsity baseball field. Ledbetter dedicated the gathering to OPRF High School alum Sarah Coglianese, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2012 at the age of 33 after a year of random falls and unexplained muscle weakness. Ledbetter coached Mike and Paul Coglianese (Sarah’s brothers) when they played baseball at OPRF.
“It’s great to donate to a cause but even more special when it’s for a personal reason,” Ledbetter said. “When you can put a face and a name to a challenge like this one, it’s very gratifying.
“I talked with Sarah on the phone last week and she has such a positive outlook on life. Sometimes, I feel like I might be having a bad day because the kids don’t listen or play well in a baseball game. That’s nothing compared to what Sarah is dealing with in her life. I’m sure she has her ups and downs, but we’re just happy and honored to support her. Our players haven’t met Sarah, but they read about her.”
ALS is a neurological disease characterized by muscle spasticity, rapidly progressive weakness due to muscle atrophy, and difficulty in speaking, swallowing and breathing. Formerly a runner, Coglianese is confined to a wheelchair.
Despite the difficulties she faces every day, Coglianese draws strength from her husband, Rob, and their young daughter, Scarlett. Sarah wrote the following passage on her blog: “I can still find the good and the funny in every day, mainly thanks to my hilarious, sweet and massively feisty 4-year-old.”
After reading contributing reporter Brad Spencer’s story previewing Sunday’s challenge, Coglianese responded in the Wednesday Journal comments section.
“Thanks, Brad, for this great piece and a HUGE thank you to Chris Ledbetter and the entire OPRF baseball program. It’s been awesome to see so much support coming out of Oak Park and River Forest — but not at all surprising.”
In addition to Ledbetter and the OPRF players, approximately 25 alumni, parents, friends and supporters turned out for Sunday’s event in her honor. Notable baseball alumni included Scott Nelson and Ryan Chancellor. Nelson, who graduated from OPRF in 1985, was the program’s first four-year starter and made numerous all-conference and all-state teams.
“I’m here with my kids and Scott Nelson is here with family members,” Ledbetter said. “Scott was on vacation but made it a point to be a part of this event. He’s one of the best players to ever come out of this program and he never stops giving back.”
After a brief introduction by Ledbetter regarding the purpose of the day, current (and a few former) OPRF players along with a handful of kids ran out to cover the entire baseball diamond. One player started the challenge by dumping a bucket of ice water over his head at home plate. The domino-like procession then proceeded around the horn from first to third base and back to home plate with about 30 people doused in water once the spirited challenge was completed.
“Our players are in this program for four years, two [years] on the varsity level,” Ledbetter said. “Twenty years from now, they won’t remember the outcomes of games. They will remember the friendships they shared and the life lessons they learned.
“We have good kids who genuinely love to do things for other people. Whether it’s helping a special-needs student in the hallway or supporting a great person like Sarah, our players enjoy helping others. Our ice bucket challenge served as a reminder of what’s truly important in life, and that’s why everybody was excited to support it.”
Chancellor, who graduated from OPRF in June, enjoyed Sunday’s challenge.
“[Coach] Ledbetter sent a text to all the OPRF players about the ice bucket challenge,” said Chancellor, who will play baseball at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the spring of 2015. “He likes to create a feeling of family among the baseball players, football players and really anybody around the athletic department. When I heard that the bucket challenge would directly benefit a former OPRF student, I absolutely wanted to come out. It was fun and I’m glad I did it.”
To make a donation, visit www.speed4sarah.com.
Brad Spencer contributed to this report.