In news that will make many of us feel old, the Ice Bucket Challenge is back, over a decade since the first iteration in 2014.
We’ll try to not think about how much has happened in the world since then…
If you weren’t familiar, the Ice Bucket Challenge started in America to raise awareness of the condition ALS, which is the most common form of Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
The challenge involved pouring a bucket of ice water over yourself, nominating your friends to do the same and making a donation to an ALS charity.
On their website, the MND Association explains: “In the UK, the Ice Bucket Challenge hit over the August Bank Holiday weekend, and it wasn’t long before a surge of donations flooded into the [MND] Association’s JustGiving page, set-up by volunteers Paula and Robert Maguire. In just a few short days, the Ice Bucket Challenge raised £7.25million, changing the course of the Association’s work for good.
Now, with TikTok heavyweights like James Charles and Haley Kalil taking part, the challenge is having a resurgence.
Why is the Ice Bucket Challenge back?
Forbes explains: “The newest ice bucket challenge was created by students at the University of South Carolina’s Mental Illness Needs Discussion club, which first posted on Instagram about the challenge on March 31 and said the effort was to raise awareness and funds for mental health causes.”
Since then, the trend has raised $245,000 for US mental health charity Active Minds and over 20,000 people have used the tag #icebucketchallenge on TikTok.
The trend has come under some criticism from ALS advocates with Brooke Eby, an ALS advocate and sufferer stating that she is “fuming” watching “people steal the ALS ice bucket challenge for a different cause when ALS still doesn’t have a cure.”
However, the ALS Association posted on Instagram supporting the new take on the challenge saying: “The Ice Bucket Challenge is back! Mental health impacts everyone, including people affected by ALS.”
What are the symptoms of ALS?
The Motor Neurone Disease Association share that these are common early signs of the condition saying, “MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord”:
- Muscle twitching
- Tingling or pins and needles
- Fatigue or extreme tirewdness
- Tripping and one or both legs getting thinner
- Dropping things due to weak or stiff hands
- Slurred or faint speech
- Swallowing difficulties
- Breathing problems
- Emotional outbursts
- Changes to thinking and behaviour
The charity also adds that if you’re worried you may have the condition, you should speak to your GP.
MND Association provides support to people living with MND, carers, family members, health and social care professionals and anybody else affected by the condition.
#Ice #Bucket #Challenge
