Photo: Mike Macklin/ WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Hundreds of people braved the frigid waters and dived head first into Dorchester Bay Saturday for the fourth annual “Rally 4 Nally Polar Plunge.”
This fundraiser honors Boston resident Cathy Nally who passed away from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and aims to raise awareness and donations for research.
Nally’s kids, Dan and Betsy, have been organizing this event on their mother’s birthday, Jan. 4, ever since she passed away. She would’ve turn 65.
“It doesn’t bring her back, but at the same time to be able to see all these friends and family come out each and every year in this actually frigid temperature in that freezing cold water, just no better feeling in the world and no better tribute for her,” Dan told WBZ NewsRadio.
ALS is a neurological disease that causes slow muscle loss and eventually loses the ability to move and speak. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, around nine in 100,000 people gets impacted, and it’s more common in adults over the age of 50.
“This disease is really fast and aggressive and it’s sad to watch someone go through it,” Betsy said.
“Rally 4 Nally Polar Plunge” hopes to raise $400,000 to donate to research studies looking for a cure.
“There really is so much still unknown, so we have to start with the research and then make it as comfortable as possible for those living with the disease as well,” Betsy continued, adding that they will continue to host this fundraise until there is a cure."
WBZ NewsRadio's Mike Macklin reports.
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