Remember the ice bucket challenge? A 'grown up' version's coming to Pensacola. Here's why:

It happened so fast.

Jeff Elbert's father first experienced symptoms in August 2017. By September, he was using a walker, and by October, he couldn't walk at all. He was diagnosed with ALS in December and couldn't move anything but his arms. On Feb. 12, 2018, he passed away.

After losing his father, Elbert wanted to let others know about the devastating effects of ALS and assure other families battling the illness that they are not alone.

"It's so horrific to the families that many families just want to move on with their lives and not think about it. But I'm determined to do whatever it takes," said Elbert, a volunteer and board member for the ALS Association's Florida chapter.

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On Aug. 16 at the Gulfside Pavilion at Pensacola Beach, Elbert and other local leaders will take part in the ALS CEO Soak to raise funds for the nonprofit.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a nervous system disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and weakens the muscles, limiting physical function. It affects 5.5 people per 100,000 in the U.S. population, according to the National ALS Registry. There is no cure and the average lifespan after diagnosis is two to five years.

The ALS Association supports research, awareness and care services to people who are diagnosed with ALS, and has a mission to do "whatever it takes" to make ALS a livable disease and find a cure.

A fundraising event for ALS, the ice bucket challenge, went viral in 2014 and resulted in people across the nation pouring buckets of ice water on their heads for the cause. The CEO Soak engages business and community leaders to get soaked once again for ALS by standing in a fountain, jumping in a pool, using a dunk tank or simply getting drenched by an ice bucket full of water.

Tara Bowden, event coordinator for ALS Association Florida Chapter, sees the ALS CEO Soak event as the "grown up" version of the ice bucket challenge. The goal of the event is to get community leaders with an influential voice to spread the word about ALS to their peers, employees and clients.

Bowden said it will be a fun event that she wants to reach as many people as possible, especially in the Pensacola area.

"It just seems like not as much awareness is in that area," Bowden said. "(We're holding the event) so the families aren't feeling isolated, they know that there's a community that supports them."

Brian Wyer, president and CEO of the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce, was convinced to take part in this good cause by Elbert.

"People don't need to hear a sermon, they need to see it," Wyer said. "And the actions of people getting involved, especially CEOs, leaders of the community, getting involved and doing it in a fun way. I mean, everyone can do fundraising or awareness and kind of a speech type way or presentation. But when you get out there and you have fun, it's truly a way that people want to get involved for the future."

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Elbert said there are people right under our noses who are suffering from the disease and wants these individuals and families to know there is a community here for them.

"I felt very isolated, my family did, when we were going through this," Elbert said. "And I want the community to know about it, but I also want other ALS families who are suffering from this to know they're not alone. We're out here and we can help."

The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Gulfside Pavilion, 20 Casino Beach Boardwalk, alongside the outdoor summer concert series Bands on the Beach. Anyone can participate in the event and donate to the ALS Association's mission.

To register or donate for the event, visit donate.fl.als.org.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: ALS Association brings CEO Soak fundraiser to Pensacola Beach