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Charles Wallace of Sabattus smiles after dunking his granddaughter, Alyssa Janke of Rumford, during the ALS Ice Tank Challenge at Photo Finish in Auburn on Wednesday. Wallace, a longtime customer of Photo Finish, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in April. “When he told us he had ALS, we decided we had to do something,” owner Ellie Gagnon of Lewiston said. Gagnon’s husband, Francis Gagnon, was nominated by a friend to take part in the ALS Association Ice Bucket Challenge and decided to put a spin on the event. He and his wife filled a dunk tank with ice water and held a fundraiser for ALS in honor of Wallace. Sisters, brothers, grandchildren, friends and neighbors of Wallace came to support the effort. “This is something very hard to comprehend for all of us,” Wallace’s sister, Anne Knott of Damariscotta, said. “Charles was my idol growing up. He kept me out of trouble and would always analyze things before giving us advice,” said Knott, one of four siblings. “He was what we called the level-headed one.” Ellie Gagnon said she hopes the event raises $1,000 for the ALS Association. “It would be nice to raise $10,000, but that’s not going to happen. Who knows, miracles do happen. I’m just really happy to see the community pull together like this,” Gagnon said.
Charles Wallace, left, of Sabattus talks with his brother, Lowell Wallace of Waldoboro. Charles Wallace’s two sisters, Jean Fales of Warren and Anne Knott of Damariscotta, also came to the ALS Ice Tank Challenge at Photo Finish in Auburn on Wednesday.
Paul Gagnon, 8, of Lewiston gets dunked during the ALS Ice Tank Challenge at Photo Finish in Auburn on Wednesday. Gagnon is the son of business owners Ellie and Francis Gagnon.
Friends, family and neighbors of Charles Wallace, second from right, watch as people take the ALS Ice Tank Challenge at Photo Finish in Auburn on Wednesday.
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