Fans who have not heard of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by now should please come out of the caves they have been hiding in and see what is happening outside! The internet sensation called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has people around the world joining in on the fight to raise awareness for ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig‘s disease.
The challenge has gone viral this past month, which had even the biggest celebrities and athletes on television participating. Chances are that by now most people have at least seen someone post a video of him/herself pouring ice water over his/her own head for this cause. Never before have we seen a movement this great for a cause like ALS, and for it to gain such popularity in a short period of time is remarkable, to say the least.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images Sport)
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge consists of pouring ice water over one’s own head as challenged by someone else who has already done it. The person challenged has 24 hours to complete the challenge or donate money to the cause. Once the person finishes, he/she may then nominate others to participate. Of course, many who complete the challenge still donate generously.
The man behind the challenge is Pete Frates, a 29-year-old man diagnosed with ALS in early 2012. As an athlete, playing sports was a major part of his life. While in his senior year at Boston College, he was Captain of the baseball team. One of his best performances came in the 2006 Beanpot Championship at Fenway Park, in which Boston College beat Harvard 10-2. Frates went 4-4 with a home run, a double, and three RBI. As a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, it was an experience he will never forget.
Nothing could prepare him for what would soon take over his life a few years later. Shortly his diagnosis of ALS, his condition progressively worsened over a span of two years. The disease has completely taken his ability to walk and speak. However, none of those challenges have held him back from fighting and raising awareness for ALS. Since the beginning of his difficult battle, he has dedicated his life to the cause by raising money needed for continued research to one day find a cure.
The typical life expectancy for someone with ALS is two to five years. Instead of waiting for the disease to overtake him, Pete Frates has done something incredible during these past two years. Not only has he raised awareness and inspired millions of people to take the ice bucket challenge, people have also donated more than ever. The ALS Association has reported over $100 million dollars in donations in the last month alone from July 29th to August 29th, 2014, compared to only $2 million during the same period the previous year.
This goes further than just dumping a bucket of ice water on one’s own head. This challenge has brought awareness to a cause that has everyone talking and uniting together to help those with ALS. The ice bucket challenge got our attention, and the fight against ALS is gaining momentum.
Pete Frates, still facing this battle every day, has already made a difference. His courage, dedication and life are inspiring us to make a change in the world. There are numerous existing causes that need our support, and we should not stop here.
What are we doing to make a difference? What will we do to help? Maybe a bucket of ice water is just what we need to get started.
For more information about Pete Frates and his fight against ALS, please see his family’s Website, The Pete Frates Fund.
