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August 20, 2014

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The use of social media in times of today is no longer restricted to the traditional activities of posting photos, sharing statuses, watching videos and chatting with friends. The now trending ‘Ice Bucket Challenge‘ is certainly an example that social media is being utilized for a completely different and noble cause of mustering support and raising awareness among masses.

Why Ice Bucket Challenge?

The social media has recently been stormed by the wave of videos of numerous known personalities and celebrities performing the Ice Bucket Challenge which is the initiative of the ALS Association, a group working for the welfare of patients suffering from the neurological disorder Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as the ‘Lou Gehrig’s Disease’.

What is the ‘Lou Gehrig’s Disease‘?

ALS is not a very common disease affecting 1 in every 50000 (that’s 0.002%) people of the global population, adversely affecting the neurons of human brain and spinal cord. The life expectancy of the patients varies,however, a large number of patients die without the diagnosis.

How did it all begin?

The Ice Bucket Challenge was initiated in 2012 by Pete Fates, a former Boston College baseball player who was diagnosed with ALS back then. Fates is now facing difficulties in talking, is paralysed and eats through a feeding tube.

Working of the Ice Bucket Challenge.

With the view of spreading awareness among people about the existence, symptoms and possible treatments of the disease, the ALS Association has come up with the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’. According to the rules, the participants are supposed to dump a bucket of ice cold water on their heads, film it as it happens, and post it on web. Also, once the task is done, the participants are supposed to nominate three more people to perform the challenge within 24 hours.

If however, someone decides to not complete the challenge, he can forfeit his name by donating $100 to the credit of the ALS Association.

Numerous celebrities, corporate faces and other famous personalities have been performing the challenge and posting the videos online. Here’s a brief list featuring numerous personalities who have performed the task.

The video uploaded by Bill Gates, shows him designing, constructing and painting an apparatus for automatic downpour of water on him. Bill Gates was challenged to perform the task by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Microsoft employees are seen inverting the cold water bucket on the head of their CEO Satya Nadella, as he also joined the club of ALS challenge performers.

Numerous other famous figures like singer Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga  and Justin Bieber have also performed the challenge.Rory McIlory and Tiger Woods were also seen emptying water buckets on each other. Cristiano Ronaldo performed the ice bucket challenge and nominated singer Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and rapper Lil Wayne.

The entire star cast of the famous ABC television show Grey’s Anatomy has also performed the Ice Bucket Challenge and nominated the star cast of ‘Scandal’ and ‘How to get away with a murder.’

Even Indians aren’t lagging behind in supporting the noble cause, Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi has performed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and has nominated actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra to do the same within 24 hours.

Interestingly, It isn’t only the human beings who’ve been performing the challenge, but people have also done the task with their pets.

 

Not only video performances and challenges are doing rounds on the web but numerous memes are also being made out of the rather funny stunt wherein people are openly dumping cold water on themselves.

However, the challenge has witnessed around 1 million video uploads in the summer of 2014 itself and talking about the funds, already $23 million have been credited to the ALS Association account. (According to the official ALS website)

 A noble cause indeed, if not anything else, it is certain that this drill will leave a lasting impact on minds of people, something that’ll always remind them of what the cause of this act was, which in fact, does solve the purpose.

 

Featured Image Credits: www.elitedaily.com