Sandoval issues Ice Bucket Challenge to Reid, Heller, Sisolak

Gov. Brian Sandoval accepted the ice bucket challenge and challenged Sen. Dean Heller, Sen. Harry Reid and Commissioner Steve Sisolak to take part. (Brian Sandoval/Facebook)

At least one local politician is now among those who have taken part in the Ice Bucket Challenge” — the viral fundraising stunt that has raised over $10 million for the ALS Association in the past few weeks.

The challenge is simple: donate $100 to the ALS Association, or post a video of yourself getting a bucket of ice water dumped on you, then challenge others to participate. Many of those who post the videos make a donation, anyway.

On Friday, Gov. Brian Sandoval joined the likes of Oprah, Kerry Washington and Team USA, posting his own ice bucket challenge on social media.

Candidate for Reno mayor Hillary Schieve and KOLO anchor Sarah Johns challenged Sandoval. The governor’s daughters dumped the buckets of ice water over his head, leaving him sputtering.

“And now, I hereby challenge Senator Dean Heller, Senator Harry Reid and Commissioner Steve Sisolak of the Clark County Commission to accept the challenge,” Sandoval said. He said his campaign would donate another $100 to the ALS association. Heller has responded to Sandoval’s challenge, himself challenging Rep. Mark Amodei, state Sen. Mark Hutchison and Rep. Joe Heck.

A Friday tweet from Reid’s official account said Reid would donate to the ALS Association in response to the challenge.

ALS — amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease — affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, progressively degenerating the motor neurons and leading to death. About 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed every year, according to the ALS Association.

Contact Stephanie Grimes at sgrimes@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @stephgrimes