Why is the Ice Bucket Challenge so hot?
Brett Smith and Tommy Bolton
August 21, 2014
For the past few weeks most people cannot open any form of social media without seeing the words “Ice Bucket Challenge”, whether it is a video of a friend doing it or opinions about the latest viral social media movement. Famous athletes, singers and actors, such as Oprah Winfrey, former President George W. Bush and Pittsburgh Penguins center forward Sidney Crosby have participated in the phenomenon.
Even Robert Morris’s own mascot RoMo and President Gregory Dell’Omo have doused themselves with ice and water.
What the challenge actually entails is one person, who was nominated by another, has 24 hours to dump ice and cold water on themselves. If the participant decides that he/she doesn’t want to get soaked with cold water, he/she can do the alternative of donating $100 to the cause which is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, according to ALS Association’s website, www.alsa.org.
This challenge has stirred up a heated debate. Some individuals think that this whole challenge is pointless due to the fact that most people skip donating any money and just go straight to dumping water on themselves. A common argument that is made is to just donate the money spent on buying bags of ice straight to ALS.
The ALS Association’s website puts these comments to shame with some surprising facts. From July 29 to Aug. 16 of last year, the ALS association raised only $1.7 million. Since the Ice Bucket Challenge began, from the same time period of this year the association has received $11.4 million—a difference of $9.7 million all because of this challenge.
Tresa Rentler, a sophomore at Robert Morris University, has not yet been nominated for the challenge.
“From what I can tell, I know that any publicity is good publicity… But, I don’t think that this is helping the charity more than it is exploiting it,” said Rentler.
Instead of just doing the challenge or donating the $100, the better option may be to do the challenge as well as donate a smaller amount of money. This keeps the challenge and nominations going, but also gets donations increased and complaints decreased.
To donate or find out more information, visit the ALS Association website at www.alsa.org.
Julie Hilditch • Oct 23, 2023 at 2:55 am
In December my health took a turn for the worse I became very weak fast and could not even eat When I say fast I mean going from eating a full plate of food to three days later not being able to drink a a sip of water I went to VA hospital emergency room for dehydration and figure they schedule me for a feeling tube placement They admitted me and two weeks later I woke up to my standing over me in the hospital room this occurred during my second or third drug holiday from Radicava Again no way to know if what I experienced was a side effect When I was discharged I was completely paralyzed So i started on Ayurvedic treatment from Natural Herbs Centre as time went on movement returned to my legs and to my arms and hands Able to hold my head up and strength has returned I give credit to God and NHC for my recovery Almost forgot to mention I was on 24 hours ventilation Now only use vent at night and during naps Was diagnosed in 2021 with ALS, I urge you to seek out naturalherbscentre. c om. We’re a little scared to tell everyone because some people might not believe us, since there’s no cure for ALS. But when I saw this post, I decided to share our story. This treatment is a breakthrough!
Veronica Mckall • Mar 5, 2023 at 3:46 am
My grandma has Lou Gehrig’s disease, she is about 75 years old it was diagnosed 2 years ago. Right now it’s getting more difficult to live for her, because of stiff muscles she can’t even move. Riluzole and Edaravone medicines are given, but won”t give much relief. She can”t eat food without choking. I thought this might be the last stage and the medications she was given did not help at all, so I started to do alot of research on natural treatments, I was introduced to Health Natural Centre and their ALS Herbal Protocol. She started on the ALS/MND Treatment last year, her symptoms gradually diminished including her vocal cord spasm, Body Weakness and Difficulty with swallowing. Reach them at healthnaturalcentre.org , She is getting active again since starting this treatment, she is able to walk again ( down the street and back )she have also resumed exercising to strengthen muscles!! God Bless all ALS Caregivers. Stay Strong, take small moments throughout the day to thank yourself, to love your self, and pray to whatever faith, star, spiritual force you believe in and ask for strength. I can personally vouch for these remedy but you would probably need to decide what works best for you.