I was challenged to the ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) ice bucket challenge. For anyone (is there anyone?) who hasn’t heard about it, you are challenged by a friend, relative, or maybe enemy to either donate $10 to ALS and dump a bucket of ice water over your head, or skip the ice bath and donate $100. You are to video yourself dumping the ice, and post it online as proof. And you get to challenge others to do the same.
I haven’t checked lately, but I believe that last figures I saw were around $11 million in donations. I have to say, it was a clever idea, and whoever thought of it was inspired. It’s a relatively easy thing to do. My video was under two minutes, and I’d guess the entire thing, including changing out of the wet clothes, took about 15 minutes. It’s not a huge time commitment like a carnival, or a race or walk. You don’t need special equipment, nor do you have to travel to do it. $10 is an reasonable donation for most people. The charity is certainly a deserving one. It’s simple, entertaining, and really, brilliant.
It’s gone viral, of course. There are videos everywhere of people dousing themselves with ice water. I guess there are some who find it annoying, but I’ve been amused with the reactions. Let me tell you, that water is COLD! LOL And it has attracted the attention of the famous, as well as you and I. I have seen videos from Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, George Takei, and John Barrowman.
Oh, I suppose there are those who are challenged who will just ignore it, for any number of reasons. Some, I am sure, are valid. Some, I am also sure, will be more rationalizations than real reasons, but that’s the way it is with everything. A lot of people are embracing it, and having some fun while supporting research that may, some day, find a cure for ALS.
So, if YOU haven’t done the challenge yet- consider this your call out! 24 hours to either donate $10 and dump a bucket of ice water over your head (with video proof) or a $100 donation to ALS. Go!
And So On... 