What Is ALS ???
The Ice Bucket Challenge, sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, is an activity involving dumping a bucket of ice water on someone's head to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and encourage donations to research. It went viral on social media during July-August 2014. In the US, many people participate for the ALS Association, and in the UK, many people participate for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, although some individuals have opted to donate their money from the Ice Bucket Challenge to other organizations.The challenge dares nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads and then nominating others to do the same. A common stipulation is that nominated participants have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation.
What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.
Money raised by ALS ice bucket challenge so far?
$22 million is the figure as of Saturday, August 28, 2014. Viral ice bucket challenge has added 2,20,225 new Donors to the Association.
Origin of the Idea
A lot of speculations have been made regarding the origin of this idea. We snooped around and found, it all began on June 30, 2014 when a Golf Channel Moring show performed a live on-air ice bucket challenge. Thereafter, golfer Chris Kennedy got involved and uploaded his video on Facebook, one thing led to another and all of a sudden Pat Quinn, a 31-year-old in Yonkers, NY, was posting ice bucket challenges in an attempt to raise funds for the disease.Quinn’s Facebook network overlapped with Massachusetts resident and former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates, who has ALS and began posting about the challenge on Twitter.
Why the Video went viral?
1. Simple yet interesting
The entire concept is intriguing enough to generate an action. The challenge requires very less resources and is fun to perform. Most importantly, the concept is spreading happiness and evokes a feeling of content in the participants by making them feel like they have contributed towards a righteous cause.
2. Involves Influential People
Even if you believe the concept itself is not crazy enough to go viral, you cannot decline the fact that it has been marketed superbly. It has connected with the most influential people on this planet and when such people share it on their vast Social Network it is bound to make the rounds.
3. Not limited to one Industry
The freedom that the challenge can be performed by anyone puts it exactly where it should be – The Viral League. The challenge is spreading like a wild fire as top Honchos across sectors like Technology, Sports, Films, Corporates and Politicians participateand challenge others.
4. Associated Cause
Lou Gehrig’s diseaseis a subject which requires comprehensive research. The donations made will immensely help the patients to tide through the nemesis.This is the associated cause which is the key reason why the most powerful people want to join the Bandwagon.
5. Social Sharing
One needs to film himself and post the video on Social Platforms within 24 hours of being nominated is the reason why ice bucket challenge went viral. Each participant nominates 3 other people which creates a multiplying effect, leading to engage millions of Internet users.
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