If you’ve been on Facebook or other popular social media sites recently, you may have seen a friend dumping a bucket of ice on their head.
The ice bucket challenges have gone viral, creating awareness and raising money for the ALS Association, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
The concept behind the challenge is simple. Dump a bucket of ice water on your head, nominate three others to do the same or donate $100 to ALS research within 24 hours.
Even Today Show anchor Matt Lauer participated in the chilly stunt after being challenged by professional golfer Greg Norman. Lauer went on to dare Brian Williams, Martha Stewart and Howard Stern to do the same.
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The ALS ice bucket challenge can be traced to Boston College, where former baseball star Pete Frates is suffering from the debilitating disease. His family started the challenge in hopes to raise awareness for the neurodegenerative disease that still has no cure.
Frates, 29, was diagnosed with the disease in 2012. He is now unable to talk and must eat through a feeding tube.
The awareness through the ice bucket campaign has sent donations to the ALS Association surging. According to KARK news, the office received $160,000 during a recent 10-day period and that doesn’t even include the money that has been sent to chapter offices.
“It’s just been wonderful visibility for the ALS community,” ALS Association’s national president Barbara Newhouse told NBC Sports. “It is absolutely awesome. It’s crazy, but it’s awesome, and it’s working.”
Phi Delt Challenges Sigma Chi, ATO to Ice Bucket Challenge
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