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Gov. Malloy Takes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is one of the latest Connecticut politicians to get doused with ice water to increase awareness about a debilitating disease.
      
Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman poured the frigid mixture over Malloy's head after he finished the MADD Dash 5K road race in Stratford on Saturday morning. It's part of the "Ice Bucket Challenge," trademarked by the ALS Foundation, which is spilling across the nation and social media to raise money to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

After winning last week's Republican gubernatorial primary, Greenwich businessman Tom Foley had a bucket of ice water poured over his head by his primary rival, Senate Minority Leader John McKinney (R) and called upon Malloy and Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo to take the challenge. McKinney had previously participated in the challenge and nominated Foley to take it on next.

In the challenge, participants dump a bucket of ice or ice water on their heads to raise awareness about ALS and call out others to either accept the challenge and do the same or donate. Many people donate either way.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart (R) did the ice bucket challenge twice, challenging NBC Connecticut Troubleshooter George Colli, Chaz and AJ from the morning show on 99.1 PLR and 95.9 FOX and Rocky the Rock Cat.

Chaz and AJ accepted the challenge and nominated Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra (D) to do the ice bucket challenge next, as well as Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D), State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance, Jill Merriam of Key Hundai, Brynn Gingras from NBC 4 in New York and Bret Michaels.

Segarra took on their ice bucket challenge on Saturday, but there's no word about whether the others will be accepting.

A Malloy campaign spokesman said the governor received multiple challenges.

Many celebrities have also taken the challenge and donated, including Matt Lauer of The Today Show, the Kennedy family, Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien, Martha Stewart, Elizabeth Banks, Taylor Swift and many others.

More information on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and how to donate to the cause is available on the ALS Association's website. You can also see other Ice Bucket Challenge videos on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Vine.

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Copyright AP - Associated Press
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