Franklin Savings Bank’s ultimate ice bucket challenge

FARMINGTON – There were so many Franklin Savings Bank employees accepting the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that no ordinary bucket would do.

Twenty-six hardy souls left their work stations Monday afternoon and stood bravely in front of a front-end loader’s bucket filled with ice and water. Some held hands, some nervously gazed up at the bucket moments before the appointed 3:45 p.m. water dump, and everyone braced themselves for some good hard cold reality.

All this started  with an ice bucket challenge here and an ice bucket challenge there, said Anna Lyon, assistant vice president and marketing director at the bank. Soon there were numerous nominations going on all over the bank.

“We had so many challenges that we just invited everyone in the bank to participate,” Lyon said. The idea of a bucket big enough for more than two dozen generous people came to Katrina Pease who called E.L. Vining & Son, Inc. in Farmington and asked if a front-end loader might be available for a good cause.

Kevin and Judy Vining didn’t hesitate. The Vining’s front-end loader’s bucket, operated by bank employee RaeAnn Hargreaves’ husband Twink Hargreaves, was slowly raised high over all 26 heads crowded together in front of the bank on Main Street.

The  ice bucket challenge that’s been going on across the country, began as a grassroots effort to raise funds and awareness for the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) Association and involves people nominating someone to dump a bucket of ice water over their head. Those brave enough to do it, donate towards finding a cure for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Currently, there is no cure for the progressive neurodegenerative disease that  leads to total paralysis and death within five years of diagnosis.

Lyon noted since the challenges started at the bank, an awareness of bank family and friends who suffer from disease also became a topic of conversation.

“There’s a lot of support in the bank for it (ALS fund raising),” she said.

So much so, the bank’s president, Peter Judkins, who participated in the challenge, offered the bank to match up to $1,000 the money raised by employees.

In unison before the cold drench, the bankers hollered, “We accept the challenge and pass it on.” In doing so, they nominated the other local financial institutions: Bangor Savings Bank, Skowhegan Savings Bank, TD Bank, Franklin-Somerset Federal Credit Union and University Credit Union to join in the Ice Bucket Challenge fun.

At 3:45 p.m., according to the bank sign’s clock, Hargreaves slowly tilted the bucket until a cascade of water and ice splashed off the heads and shoulders of whooping, gasping and giggling bank employees. People passing by did double takes at the unusual scene. Then it was time for towels.

On Monday, The ALS Association reported $15.6 million in donations had been received so far, as compared to $1.8 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to Aug. 18). The association credited the Ice Bucket Challenge for inspiring 307,598 new donors to support their work.