Remember the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Despite some scepticism it had many positive effects
The Ice Bucket Challenge, or pouring ice-cold water over yourself, uploading it online and nominating others, was one of the top viral trends of 2014. It turns out that the world-famous event did a lot of good.
The Ice Bucket Challenge was a fun challenge in 2014 that involved dumping ice cubes or pouring ice-cold water on yourself. Once the challenge was completed, more people had to be nominated and they had to record their attempt within 24 hours. The aim of the campaign was to raise awareness of the rare neurodegenerative disease: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (hence the "ALS" acronym in the name of the challenge), and to encourage people to donate money to organizations researching the condition.
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Ice Bucket Challenge and its positive effects
On Monday 26 June, a post summarising the Ice Bucket Challenge appeared on "Crazy Nauka" Instagram profile.
"Crazy Nauka" reports that of all organizations researching ALS, the US ALS Association has managed to raise the most money thanks to the challenge. More than $115 million has flowed to the company in just six weeks. Meanwhile a sum of around $260 million was raised through the campaign worldwide.
It turns out that this money was put to excellent use. It has funded research that helped discover as many as five new genes linked to the formation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In addition, new treatments for the disease have been developed.
Thanks to the huge amount of money raised, it has also been possible to open several clinics specialising in the treatment of ALS. The next step is to develop a method that can completely eradicate the disease.
