Have you heard about the “Ice Bucket Challenge”? If you haven’t, you might be the only one.
Countless videos across the Internet make it the latest viral phenomenon, designed to raise awareness about ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). A person pours a bucket of ice water on themselves and then challenges a few friends to do the same and/or donate money to the cause.
Several athletes and celebrities have taken part in the challenge, including Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, Penguins star Sidney Crosby, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and golfer Michelle Wie, among many others. The Jets did a group dousing with a fire hose. NHL free agent Paul Bissonnette used a helicopter. Former Saints safety Steve Gleason, who is battling ALS, has participated.
Though just about everyone knows about the challenge by now, fewer know how it actually took off.
Pete Frates, a former Boston College baseball player who is battling ALS, is the brains behind the idea. No longer able to speak, Frates posted a video with Vanilla Ice playing in the background, challenging several others to take part. They did, and passed it on, having their friends do the same.
Soon, it spread across the country.
“We have never seen anything like this in the history of the disease,” said Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of The ALS Association. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the level of compassion, generosity and sense of humor that people are exhibiting as they take part in this impactful viral initiative.”
According to the ALS Association, only about half of the public is knowledgeable about the devastating disease, but since July 29, there have been more than 70,000 new donors to the cause.
Between July 29 and August 12, $4 million had been raised, as compared with $1.12 million during the same period last year.