Ice Bucket Challenge needs research to educate students
August 28, 2014
It’s bombarded every form of social media I’ve been on. It’s cold. It’s humorous. It’s seemingly illogical. It’s the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
“Kali, I know where you’re going with this. It’s for a good cause!”
Agreed. I think. That’s the problem. With all of the ice bucket challenges to raise awareness about ALS, I haven’t seen one video explaining what it is, and I didn’t know what it is until now.
Lou Gehrig’s Disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the degeneration of motor neurons throughout the body. In layman’s terms, certain nerves in the body connecting the brain with the spinal cord and muscles throughout the body deteriorate over time. As those neurons cease to communicate with the rest of the body, muscles harden then die, ultimately causing total brain failure. It is fatal in every case.
That was fairly simple to research, so why did no one include it in their video? If it’s to raise awareness and donate money, that’s fantastic. At the moment I’m writing this, the ALS Association states they have raised more than $53 million due to this viral challenge. But of all the people who have donated, how many of them actually know what they’ve donated to?
According to the Robert A. Stehlin Campaign for ALS, 90 percent of people still have no idea what ALS is.
Before taking part in a viral video challenge, regardless of the cause, do the necessary research. Know what the mission is, where the money is going and what the long-term goals are. Don’t just do it because Ben Affleck did it or because your best friend challenged you. Know the cause you’re fighting for.
Know that dumping five gallons of ice water on your head is not the only way to raise awareness about any disease. Make a video about something you’re passionate about, just to remind people it exists.
Know that you can do things a little differently than everyone else. I saw a friend take a spin on the ice bucket challenge – don’t worry, she still doused herself in cold water, but she challenged others to donate to the Celiac Disease Foundation. She lives with Celiac Disease and felt her cause was just as important, because it is.
Most of all, know that no matter where you donate, you should know that it’s for a good cause and educate others about it. By understanding the fundamentals about the causes you’re passionate about, you’ll be not only an asset to the movement, but a lasting example of what it truly means to serve.
Grace Nathan's • Jan 14, 2025 at 3:53 am
I am a CALS. My husband is PALS. It was hard and I cry daily but not in front of him unless we cry together. He couldn’t find anything to give him happiness or hope. We have been focusing on our faith. He was only losing his voice before we made the decision to try different medications, which significantly enhanced his condition. He received treatment for ALS/MND at uinehealth centre . co m from Canada approximately four months ago; since then, he has stopped using a feeding tube, speech is getting better by the day, sleeps well, works out frequently, and has become very active.
Laurah Quayle • Jul 3, 2022 at 11:34 am
Hope this is allowed here if not I understand. My husband was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) when he was 63 years old 4 years ago. The Rilutek (riluzole) did very little to help him. The medical team did even less. His decline was rapid and devastating. His arms weakened first, then his hands and legs. He resorted to a wheelchair (Perbombil C300). A year ago, I began to do a lot of research and came across Health Herbs Clinic, I decided to start him on the ALS herbal protocol as I had nothing else to turn to; 2 months into treatment he improved dramatically. At the end of the full treatment course, the disease is totally under control. No case of dementia, hallucination, weakness, muscle pain and he is even learning to Walk again.
Laurah Quayle • Jul 3, 2022 at 4:45 am
I quit my meds due to side effects. My care provider Dr Miller introduced me to Health Herbs Clinic (healthherbsclinic. com) ALS herbal treatment. The treatment is a miracle. I recovered significantly!