Thursday, August 14, 2014

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Soaks the Nation

Nothing has soaked the nation this much since the 24 Hour Cold Water Challenge

In the last two weeks, the Ice Bucket Challenge has quite literally “soaked” the nation.

According the ALS Association's web site, between July 29th and August 12th, the ALS Assocation and its 38 chapters have received $4 million in donations.

The ice bucket challenge is about spreading awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.  Research has shown that about half the general public has knowledge about the disease and since the challenge begun, the association has received more than 70,000 new donors.

According to Barbara Newshouse, President and CEO of the ALS Association,"While the monetary donations are absolutely incredible.  The visibility that this disease is getting as a result of the challenge is truly invaluable. People who have never before heard of ALS are now engaged in the fight to find treatments and a cure for ALS."

How does the "Ice Bucket Challenge" work, you ask?

The challenge is simple, you take video of yourself,

  • state your name
  • explain that this is the "Ice Bucket Challenge"
  • state who you were nominated by
  • nominate someone else to do the challenge
  • then take a bucket of ice water and dump it over your head.
  • The final step is to take that video and post it on social media
If the person refuses, he or she must donate money to the ALS Association.

Have you done the "Ice Bucket Challenge"?