ALS patients trade ice buckets for balloons, raise awareness

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH)-ALS patients and their doctors are trading the ice bucket challenge for balloons to help find a cure.

They stood outside an IU Health building and released dozens of balloons in the sky.

Printed on each balloon: a website with information on ALS. Patients and their doctors hope folks will find the balloons, visit the sites and learn.

ALS gradually deprives people of the ability to move, speak and breathe.

Experts don’t know a cause or cure and, according to IU Health, most patients only live two to five years.

Doctors diagnosed Tony Critchley from Howard County in 2012.

“I love it that we’re able to get the word out there for the public and to show awareness of what ALS is and what it’s doing to families and people with the disease,” he said.

Patients also praised the ice bucket challenge. In 2014, people donated $115 million dollars to the ALS Association. That group credits the ice bucket challenge.

Folks will keep raising awareness-and money-over the next month.

ALSA is helping put together a local walk to defeat ALS. For more information on how to get involved, click here.