Raising Awareness Through a Bucket of Ice

Summary of #icebucketchallenge Highlights Difficult funding decisions by Jef Akst

Mr. Jef Akst tells us that “Amyotromic Lateral Sclerosis” ( ALS ) has been getting more attention then ever, due to a sudden influx of people pouring ice water on there heads. The challenge has raised over 100 million dollars to go to the ALSA (a non profit that supports the ALS community), to fund research (Akst, 2014).

I was fascinated by to flood of videos of people participating in the #Icebucketchallenge on Instagram and Facebook. This is similar to the Live Strong rubber bracelets that were used to show encouragement for people battling cancer. This Ice bucket challenge shows support in a comparable way using young people’s obsession with social media to support the ALS community. I agree with the 1,176 people who signed the petition that requested ALSA to use 75 percent or more of the funds raised by the #icebucketchallenge on ALS research. This is why I Participated in the #icebucketchallenge. I think it is important that everyone knows how awful ALS is and that there needs to be more research on it so that we can find a cure.

Akst, J. (2014, September 3). #icebucketchallenge. Retrieved from The Scientist website: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/40925/title/-IceBucketChallenge-Highlights-Difficult-Funding-Decisions/