So What Is ALS &
Why Is Everyone Dumping Buckets Of
Ice Water On Their Head???
#ALSIceWaterChallenge #StrikeOutALS
Be sure to check out: The cutest #ALSIceBucketChallenge yet!!
“ALS can strike anyone” – ALS Association Website
If you are on online at all, chances are you’ve seen a video of someone dumping a bucket of ice water on their head and naming names. What’s it all about?
What is ALS?
ALS stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is commonly referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”. On their website, ALS Association describes the disease: “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.”
What are the symptoms of ALS?
Symptoms of ALS can include”
- Muscle weakness in hands, legs, feet, ankles, arms, shoulders or tongue
- Muscle cramping and/or twitching in the arms, hands or tongue
- Slurred speech, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty holding head up and/or standing up straight
What causes ALS?
In a small percentage of cases, ALS is inherited. Additional causes are unknown.
“Approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. The incidence of ALS is two per 100,000 people, and it is estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans may have the disease at any given time.”
– ALS Association Website
Is there treatment?
There is no cure for ALS. Current treatments work to slow the progression of the disease. Symptom treatments focus on: medication, various therapies, and nutrition.
What is the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge?”
Some people are calling the ALS #IceBucketChallenge the most successful social media campaign yet. It is a viral fundraising campaign raising money for the ALS Association and raising awareness of the disease. 29 tear old Pete Frates lives with the disease and started this sensation in his ongoing devotion to raising ALS awareness. Current donations to ALS total more than 15% higher than those of a year ago!! Read more on the ALS website.
How does the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge work?
ALS Ice Water Challenge is a challenge or dare. You are called out by someone who has completed the challenge to either dump a bucket of ice water on your head or donate $100 to the ALS Association. Once you complete the challenge, it is your turn to nominate 3 people to do the same.
Is it really working?
YES!! Not only is the challenge spreading the word about ALS like wild fire, but as of today, the “ALS Association has received $31.5 million in donations compared to $1.9 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 20).” – ALS Association Press Release
So now you know what the seemed craziness is all about. Now it’s your turn! Parenting Beyond nominates YOU!!
Donate Now 🙂
“The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about The ALS Association, visit our website at www.alsa.org.” – ALS Association Website
I like Charlie Sheen’s bucket challenge,very funny!Bill Gates did an awesome job too.
Lets all join in the challenge,you re next!
very funny !!!
i too want to do the als ice bucket challenge
Ok !Let’s keep up the great work!
i need to do this. someone nominate me
I think if someone wants to donate to a charity they should just do it, they shouldn’t need to be nominated for some challenge
I like this challenge and how it’s raising awareness of the disease.
I was given the opportunity to participate and I took it! The little kids thought is was so cool they did it too!
Another American narcissistic selfie moment- just write a check if you have a passion for a certain charity. We’re dumping water on our heads and they are beheading children in Northern Iraq. Why not more attention to that?! No wait that’s not fun. It always has to be funny doesn’t it?
Great post! I’ve been seeing these everywhere and although most are really amusing, I didn’t really understand why they were doing it so this was very helpful
Thankfully it’s for a good cause, not just another silly fad.
It’s amazing how quickly the Ice Bucket Challenge has spread. I see new videos popping up every day on my social media feed.
This challenge to fight ALS has been a tremendous success in fundraising. I want to congratulate all who participated for their contributions. Yayyyyy!
I am thrilled that the IBC has been such a huge success. I see some grumbling about it but they are the ones who grumble about one thing or another all the time so we just ignore the grumblers. I can tell you first hand what a debilitating disease this is. A man I thought the world of was stricken with this dreadfully cruel disease. He was one of the most intelligent men I have ever been blessed to know. He held a law degree and was a Judge for many years. So patient and kind. Firm but fair. This disease left him unable to do anything. In the end he could not even blink! You could see the light from his spirit still shining though his eyes. He just could not communicate any more.
So… I say dump cold water heck I will walk through hot coals if it means funding and finding a cure for this most hideous robber of life!
love this challenge
This Ice Bucket Challenge is for such a good cause and I think that it is going to help with research and finding a cure for this disease. I liked Charlie Sheen and Bill Gates videos
I love when people do both!! Not only accept the challenge, but donate as well to help!!!