The challenge is on. Thursday, the staff of Paul Funeral Home took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge, challenging all area funeral homes to step up and raise some money for A.L.S. (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) research.

Amidst lots of laughter, the staff took turns being doused with ice water outside the funeral home. The challenge might be funny, but the fatal disease is not: the disease — commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease — attacks motor neurons and ultimately leads to complete paralysis. Fifty percent of those who contract A.L.S. live less than two years after diagnosis.

For the staff of Paul Funeral Home, the fundraiser for A.L.S. hits close to home. Fenner T. Paul, one of the original partners in Paul Funeral Home, was one of the first diagnosed cases in the area. Paul died in 1956. More recently, Paul Funeral Home Office Manager Shelia Moore lost her brother-in-law, Lynn Moore, to the disease. One day after the one-year anniversary of Lynn Moore’s death, Shelia Moore, after being challenged by one of her daughters, challenged all of her coworkers to take the plunge.

“We’re doing this in memory of all families, because of everyone here knows someone who’s had it,” Shelia Moore said.

According to Funeral Director Bobby Hodges, seeing deaths from ALS was once a rarity.

“It seems like we’ve had more cases in the last few years,” Hodges said. “Really, more than we had thought.”

The rising prevalence and the catchy Ice Bucket Challenge fundraiser has successfully raised awareness of the disease, not to mention a lot of money: donations to the A.L.S. Association between July 29 and Aug. 21 topped $41 million as of Thursday.

The fundraiser has caught on with actors, professional athletes, politicians and just everyday folk. It’s a unique challenge: dump a bucket or bowl full of ice water over your head and pay a little ($20), or take a pass on the chilling experience and pay a lot ($100) to the A.L.S. Association. Video the experience, post it on social media and challenge others. For the most part, the videos have been highly amusing — for example, Laura Bush dumping ice water on husband and former President George W. Bush. Bush, in turn, challenged former President Bill Clinton to do the same.

Staff members at Paul Funeral Home may have gotten drenched for the cause this week, but it’s not the first time they’ve pitch in for good causes: they support the major American Cancer Society fundraiser Relay for Life, Multiple Sclerosis research, Special Olympics and last year, they participated in the Down East A.L.S. walk as part of team “Beatin’ for Brother,” in honor of Lynn Moore, Shelia Moore said. They plan to walk again this year, she added.

“We did (the challenge) for the awareness that this is causing and, hopefully, the donations the association gets — that’s what it’s all about,” Shelia Moore said.