Video: Greenwich EMS Issues Ice Bucket Challenge to Stamford EMS

Nearly a dozen members of the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and are now looking to their colleagues at Stamford EMS and Westport EMS to help support their ALS cause.

GEMS dedicated their bucket challenge on Thursday afternoon to raise funds for a fellow EMT and firefighter — Amanda Bernier of Madison. Amanda and her husband Chris, have volunteered for years with the North Madison Volunteer Fire Co., the ‘NOMADs’ whose motto is “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.”

The 30-year-old Amanda was diagnosed with ALS — shortly after learning she was pregnant with the couple’s first baby. According to the websiteamandas-angels.org, she has been diagnosed with the most aggressive form of the disease and “within weeks, Amanda’s condition has worsened to the point where she can no longer walk and has lost more than 50 percent of her respiratory capacity. She is living as long and strong as she can for the sake of “Peanut,” as she and Chris are calling their little girl.”

She is now 18 weeks pregnant.

Amanda is still working as a scientist in a biotech company despite being unable to walk and breathe easily. Her husband is the chief of Madison Emergency Medical Services and serves as a deputy chief with the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company.

GEMS staff, who also challenged the EMS Chiefs Association, is asking donations be made via amandas-angels.org to help the Berniers retrofit their home to accommodate Amanda’s wheelchair, to buy a wheelchair van and provide funds for medical bills.

The You Tube video of GEMS getting doused can be viewed here.

Photo and video credit: Barbara Heins.