The Ice Bucket Challenge

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is an activity in which you have pour a bucket of cold water over yourself. This is being done to spread awareness about the disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). The nominated person has to make a video of himself/herself pouring a bucket of cold water. The nominated person can further nominated other people. They are usually given a time of 24 hrs to complete the challenge. If they fail to do so, they have to compensate by doing a charitable donation.

ALS , also known as motor neuron disease (MND) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by rapid weakness, difficulty in speaking , swallowing and breathing. This disease is responsible for 2 deaths per 1 lakh in a year.There is a hereditary factor in the disease. The origin of such an idea is unknown. There have been similar challenges such as the 'Cold Water Challenge' where one has to jump into cold water, and if not, then he/she has to donate to cancer research.

In mid-2014, the challenge became viral and everyday there are videos of celebs taking the challenge, completing it, donating and challenging others. US President Obama was also challenged for the same , but he declined saying that he would make a donation. Other celebrities who completed the challenge and nominated others include Justin Bieber, Russel Brand, George Bush, Shreya Ghoshal. The phenomenon has also been called the 'Harlem Shake of summer'.

Here's the video of Bill Gates taking the Ice Bucket Challenge...

Before the challenge went viral, the awareness of ALS was very rare. But soon people got aware , started donating and the ALS association raised more than 10million$ on 21st August alone. Let's see how many more to go... you could be the next...