“I got challenged today.” When my 8 month pregnant sister told me this, I was automatically bothered. “For the Ice Bucket Challenge.” Ahh, a sigh of relief.
This summer social media has been jam-packed with all sorts of challenges. Just two of them include the Fire and the Pass Out Challenge. While one involves putting some type of flammable liquid on your body and lighting yourself on fire the latter has participants make themselves unconscious for a few seconds – yes, on purpose. Injuries have included second and third degree burns as well as seizures. It’s gone as far as parents being arrested for helping children tape the challenges, and at least one death. These challenges going viral on Facebook and Vine have participants achieving social media notoriety, making more people want to try.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a breath of fresh air.
WHAT IS IT?
Once challenged, you either donate $100 to the charity or pour a bucket full of water and ice on top of your head. Compared to the examples earlier, I’ll take this any day.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
Raashmi Krishnasamy, a young woman from McMurray, says she was “willing to go through [it] for a great cause” and it was a “chilling” experience.
Nyair Yates, Chaney college student from Homewood says, “I participated because it’s for a good cause and to show awareness.” She knew about the disease by its other common name, Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Instead of getting hundreds or even thousands of views on the social media site you upload to, this challenge has an invaluable reward. Awareness. ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, according to the ALS Association site it’s a neurodegenerative disease where nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are affected. The loss of motor neurons make it extremely difficult to make any voluntary muscle movement. Patients become weak and find it increasingly challenging to even speak, and eventually most patients become paralyzed. Before this challenge, this disease was virtually unknown.
HAVE AT IT!
This challenge is unlike most viral ones we’ve seen. Even if participants decide not to donate, the spotlight it’s bringing to this disease is priceless. The donations are helping researchers discover new treatments for the disease. There’s even an employer matching program to double or triple your initial donation, and Forbes reports different ALS charities are receiving anywhere between 9 and 50 times more than normal. So, if you’re challenged participate, donate; help spread the word!
