Individuals, adults and teens alike, doused themselves with ice cold water, nominated others to do the same, and posted footage of the act on social media. Why? All in the name of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
According to the ALS Association’s website, ALS (aka Lou Gehrig’s disease) is an illness that “…affects nerve cells in the brain and spiral cord.” Those with ALS experience symptoms such as muscle weakness, muffled speech and difficulty breathing over the course of the disease. 15 year old Leo Garcia’s late great grandfather was diagnosed with ALS. “He had help from everyone with everything,” Garcia said.
About 5,600 people in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each year.
Most young adults were not familiar with this disease before the “Ice Bucket Challenge” took the world by storm. It functions as a chain reaction; one completes the challenge, nominates others, and so on. Hashtags such as “#alsicebucketchallenge” or “#strikeoutals” are attached to the videos in order to spread the word. While some individuals believe that donating money is a requirement when completing (or failing to finish) the challenge, others disagree.
Controversy surrounds the Ice Bucket Challenge, as its origins are mainly debated between pro golfer Chris Kennedy and former captain of the Boston College baseball team and ALS patient Peter Frates. Despite the challenge’s vague background, its popularity is clear. Sophomore Isabella Ruiz stated, “…a lot of famous people have done it,” adding, “…it brings laughter to most people.”
Questions rose regarding the movement’s success in raising money for the ALS Association. Critics claim the challenge is an example of “slacktivism,” where people display support for a cause on the Internet through actions needing negligible time or effort. Its popularity generated statements that its purpose is forgotten, with participants dumping ice water on themselves and taking no further action. “More than anything else, the ice bucket videos feel like an exercise in raising awareness of one’s own zaniness, altruism, and/or attractiveness in a wet T-shirt,” wrote Slate senior technology editor Will Oremus in “Take the ‘No Ice Bucket’ Challenge.”
Generating awareness instead of money for a cause is a topic that also surrounded past online movements, such as the “KONY 2012” campaign which aimed to direct worldwide attention to Joseph Kony, leader of African based “Lord’s Resistance Army.” Principal Gabriel Berrio, who completed the Ice Bucket Challenge, believes awareness and contributions fuel each other. “I think that they both go hand in hand. I think that if you raise awareness, more people are willing to donate money,” Berrio said.
Whether the challenge benefits the cause or not, the ALS Association received 110.1 million dollars from Ice Bucket Challenge donations as of Sept. 7. According to the ALS Association, four million dollars was raised between Jul. 29 and Aug 12, compared to the 1.12 million dollars raised during the same time period last year.
Has the practice of drenching oneself with freezing water for ALS awareness become a staple for the cause? The future of the challenge is uncertain. Internet trends are labeled “viral” for a reason, as like Hollywood, the World Wide Web usually allots only 15 minutes of fame. “…I think it’ll probably die down, until they find the next challenge,” Berrio stated.
Whether the challenge is fully embraced or viewed as another Internet movement, it captured the attention of the public and the press. “For something that people never knew about- it’s been noticed now, and people want to know more about it,” Garcia said.
This summer, ice buckets helped bring awareness and bucks for the ALS cause. Despite the debates that surrounded the icy challenge, when one focuses on its core values, a contrastingly warm purpose is revealed.