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RALEIGH, N.C. — A special report from a local news station in North Carolina is making its appearance on the internet after this past year’s viral video wave of ALS Ice Bucket Challenges.
A local on-air news legend of nearly 40 years at ABC affiliate WTVD in North Carolina, Larry Stogner, who participated in his own Ice Bucket Challenge video in the summer of 2014, recently stunned his viewers with a heartbreaking and somewhat ironic message. He informing them that he is suffering from Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS; the very disease which he helped raise money for just month before his diagnosis.
“I am sure that in recent months, you’ve noticed a change in my voice, my speech, slower,” he said in his message. “Many of you were kind enough to email me ideas about what it might be, or just to show concern, and I truly appreciate that. As it turns out, I have ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease.”
ALS is an incurable, progressive disease which affects the brain and nervous system. For reasons unknown, the disease causes cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement to gradually deteriorate. This eventually leads to paralysis and death in a span of about two to five years.
Stogner added that he would be taking two weeks’ vacation and when he returned, he would be back to share his final thoughts and a more personal message to his fans since his career in broadcast journalism would be coming to an end.
Watch the full announcement in the video player above.
CLICK HERE for ALS Ice Bucket Challenge videos.
