Fundraising || The GNR policeman fighting to clear his name after accidentally killing a child is one of the latest people to take on the charity fund-raising ice-bucket challenge.
Hugo Ernano explained that his own desperate experience of receiving a nine-year jail sentence for what was effectively a mistake in the line of duty has shown him the value of people coming together for a cause.
Ernano’s case caused outrage recently in the press – and an outpouring of popular support eventually saw an appeal court reduce his sentence, as well as his large fine.
He is trying to reduce both even further, but in the meantime has agreed to take on the ice-bucket challenge in aid of 14-year-old Alexandro Nazário whose family needs to raise €55,400 for vital stem-cell treatment.
“My own unhappiness showed me what is possible when people come together to help someone in need,” Ernano explained his motivation – adding, “unfortunately, there are a lot of people in the world who need help.”
His date with the ice-bucket has been scheduled for 4.30pm on Saturday at the fire station in Odivelas.
Ernano is hoping it could become the biggest ice-bucket challenge to be held in Portugal so far – and his enthusiasm has encouraged others to do the same.
Firemen in Matosinhos-Leça, the area where Alexandro Nazário lives, are planning another ice-bucket challenge the week later – and security forces (Forças de Segurança Unidas) are hoping to host a 24-hour indoor football game in Valongo in September.
Alexandro Nazário suffers from ALS – the degenerative disease that the challenge was launched to support.
Huge Ernano was condemned by a Loures court for accidentally shooting a child who had been riding in the back seat of a car being used by thieves to commit a burglary. He had no idea the child was in the car when he gave chase. The child’s father had taken his son with him when he set out to rob a dairy.
