NATCHEZ — Two Adams County leaders were shivering in their socks on a hot Tuesday morning on State Street.

District 2 Supervisor David Carter and county administrator Joe Murray took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association’s Ice Bucket Challenge has been spreading around the Miss-Lou to raise awareness for the neurological disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

A friend or peer challenges a person to either donate $10 to ALS research and have a bucket of iced water poured on her head or donate $100.

If the person chooses the ice, they pick three more people who must pick the ice or the donation in 24 hours.

Another part of the challenge is the pour must be caught on camera, which has made the ice bucket challenge an Internet sensation.

While the challenge had just recently reached the halls of government, residents have been taking part in the Internet craze for weeks.

Maggie Ulmer is a student at Cathedral Middle School, and she is having a hard time finding people who have not taken the challenge.

Ulmer, 13, was challenged by one of her friends. Ulmer picked the bucket Monday, and had ice water poured on her in her back yard.

“It was freezing,” Ulmer said. “I was breathless, I didn’t know what to do.”

Ulmer then challenged three more of her friends.

Carter had a similar story of how he drove to lunch dripping wet.

President Board of Supervisors Darryl Grennell challenged Carter, who was challenged by the Board Attorney Scott Slover.

Carter then challenged Murray, who then challenged three more people.

Carter found out he needed to take the challenge after he already left his home, so he did not have a change of clothes, or even a towel.

“I was hoping my pants would make it through the day,” Carter said. “I’m about to go to Walmart and get new underwear.”

Carter said he did not know about ALS before he took the challenge.

The disease slowly degenerates nerve cells leading to gradual paralysis and death, according to the ALS Association.

For Ulmer, the Internet sensation is not just funny, but an important tool for people to learn about ALS.

“They don’t have a voice or anything, and you want to do anything to raise money for them, and awareness for the disease,” Ulmer said. “It’s really important for other people do the challenge, and also give money.”

As of Tuesday, the ALS Association had received $22.9 million in donations compared to the $1.9 million during the same time last year. The donations have come from existing donors and 453,210 new donors to the Association.