Northwest Community CEO joins viral Ice Bucket Challenge

Northwest Community Hospital CEO Stephen Scogna braced for the countdown Friday morning.

"I'm afraid, very afraid," he said.

"One! Two! Three!" And then came the splash: Two hospital executives flanking their boss dumped a green bucket of ice (well, mostly chilly water) onto Scogna's head.

Dozens of doctors, nurses and other employees joined the Ice Bucket Challenge Friday morning on the Arlington Heights hospital's east entrance lawn.

"The spirit around today is that while we're all going to be getting a little wet and a little cold, we're also going to be making a financial commitment to this very important cause," Scogna said.

Big names - Martha Stewart, Justin Timberlake, Mark Zuckerberg - have all accepted the challenge, meant to raise the profile of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig's disease, and dollars for research.

Here's how it works: Dump a bucket of ice on your head, post a video on social media and challenge three friends to the chilly stunt. They have 24 hours to accept, or if they chicken out they have donate to groups like the ALS Association.

Scogna did his part to keep the challenge going and dared firefighters from Palatine and Rolling Meadows fire departments, as well as Palatine Rural Fire Protection District. The hospital also will make a $500 donation to the ALS Association.

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that targets nerve cells in the brain and spine. There is no cure.