Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey, center, is unrecognizable beneath the barrage of icy water being dumped over his head by Edison police Patrolman Joe Chonka, left to right, Captain Andy Fresco and Chief Thomas Bryan. The ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” has taken the nation by storm, with ordinary people, celebrities and politicians dumping freezing water over their heads in the name of charity.
Woodbridge and Edison officials recently accepted the challenge to support research for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
A suit-wearing Mayor John McCormac got drenched for the cause on Aug. 15 — along with several township employees — and, in turn, nominated Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey, Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz and Avenel resident Tommy Mitch.
Lankey accepted the challenge Aug. 19 in front of Edison Town Hall. By then, he had already received two more nominations.
“I’m not thrilled about being drenched with three buckets of icy water, but I sincerely believe that we must provide more funding for scientific research to offer relief for thousands of people afflicted with ALS,” Lankey said. “It would be wonderful if we could conquer this debilitating disease in our lifetime.” Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan, Capt. Andy Fesco and Patrolman Joe Chonka dumped three buckets of icy water on the mayor.
Lankey nominated JFK Medical Center CEO Raymond Fredericks, Council President Robert Karabinchak and Middlesex County Freeholder Charles Tomaro to take the challenge. Lankey also pledged to make a personal donation to help fight ALS.
Woodbridge Board of Education President Brian Molnar also completed the task Aug. 19 at the Woodbridge school administration offices after being challenged by resident Amy Skibar.
Molnar, who described ALS as “one of the cruelest” diseases, wore a T-shirt and shorts as Maryann Anner and Dave Weidele dumped ice water over his head.
“That was refreshing,” he said with a smile.
Molnar then nominated Vincent Smith, John Crowe and now Robert Zega — the three superintendents he has served under during his time on the Board of Education.
As of Aug. 20, the “Ice Bucket Challenge” had raised more than $22.9 million for the national nonprofit ALS Association, which supports research of the progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.