ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has already raised over $15 million for the research on ALS disease, but critics are lashing out against the possible problems against the campaign. But first, what is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge?
Everybody has seen it trending on social media as of late - more and more people are pouring ice buckets over their heads, but what really is the reason behind this?
According to CNN Wire, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a campaign started for ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. The videos may seem nonsensical, especially those posting them without giving reference whatsoever to the disease, but the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is apparently more than just social media hype.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a fundraising concept created by the ALS Association of America, reports The Guardian. The challenge aims to raise money and awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
According to Global News, ALS is a non-contagious disease which can affect anyone, anywhere. Currently, researchers do not know its exact causes, said Dr. David Taylor, director of research at the ALS Society of Canada.
There is reportedly no current drug to cure or slow down its onset. Existing treatments are mainly focused on making the lives of people with the disease easier.
Taylor said 80 per cent of people afflicted with ALS die within two to five years of diagnosis. Early symptoms may include tripping, dropping things or muscle cramping, which can be mistaken for the common signs of aging.
There are also cognitive changes, including 'apathy, restlessness, mood swings, loss of reasoning or problem-solving ability,' according to the ALS Society of Canada.
Because of the lack of treatment and the research needed, the ALS ice bucket challenge was born.
The ALS ice bucket challenge is simple. Participants - mostly celebrities - are asked to do either one of two tasks. One is to dump a bucket of ice-cold water over their heads and post the video to social media, whilst challenging three others to either do the same within 24 hours. The other is to make a donation to the ALS Association for their research.
CNN Wire reports many participants who have taken part in the ALS ice bucket challenge have done both, and these people are some of the top names in the sports, entertainment, business and political world.
Most participants have chosen to donate instead, and so far, the campaign has been one of the most successful fundraising campaigns, as well as a consciousness-raising one.
According to the ALS Association on Monday, they have already received $15.6 million in donations since the ALS ice bucket challenge began on Jul. 29. The amount is reportedly up from the $1.8 million raised the previous year.
In addition, 307,598 of the donations the association has received have come from those who had never given before.
A big help for the ALS ice bucket challenge came from people with popular public personas and deep pockets, including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, NBA superstar Lebron James, tennis champ Caroline Wozniacki and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
According to CNN Wire, the ALS Association will be using the funds collected from the ALS ice bucket challenge to help the families dealing with the disease, as well as investing in finding a cure.
The group currently supports 98 active research projects. They have also recently announced giving $3.5 million in funding for 21 new research projects.
Despite the progress of the ALS ice bucket challenge, it didn't avoid its share of criticism. According to some critics, the viral trend as just another example of "slacktivism," a nickname for efforts in which people support a cause on the Internet, but don't actually do anything to help.
There is also the problem in which some people doing the ALS ice bucket challenge do not understand its root purpose.
E! Online reports that the ice water bath is actually punishment for not donating. However, many just opt for the ALS ice bucket challenge without the donation.
There is also the debate on the origin of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, according to E! Online. The challenge apparently began as a mere game, spread among pro athletes to either donate to their favorite charity or dump giant buckets of ice cold water all over themselves, then issuing challenges to other pro athletes.
The ice bucket challenge per se had nothing to do with ALS research back then. Reports say that the ALS Association simply "piggy-backed" off of the original Challenge and just nailed on the donation incentive.
The confusion has led to videos featuring people doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge without actually talking about ALS, thinking that they are taking part in a "daredevil" social media campaign, and not a charity fundraising campaign.
It is therefore suggested that upon receiving the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from someone, donate and call out three more friends to donate or face the challenge. Better yet, donate and do the challenge to make it more fun. What's important is the mention of ALS and directing people to the ALS Association website.
You can also simply just pick another charity to donate to. The point in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - get wet, cold and uncomfortable for a good cause.
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge all ends in how one chooses to help. No matter the amount an individual contributes to a given charity, it will surely help the association get closer towards its goal.
Below is the video of Mark Zuckerberg's taking on the Ice Bucket Challenge.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
