How much money has the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge raised till now?

Update: As of Monday, August 25, The ALS Association has received $79.7 million in donations compared to $2.5 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 25). These donations ha

Nirmalya Dutta | Updated: August 26, 2014 11:04 am

Tags: Diseases & Conditions ALS In the news Charlie Sheen Ice Bucket Challenge

Update: As of Monday, August 25, The ALS Association has received $79.7 million in donations compared to $2.5 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 25). These donations have come from existing donors and 1.7 million new donors to The Association.

The ALS Association’s mission includes providing care services to assist people with ALS and their families through a network of chapters working in communities across the nation and a global research program focused on the discovery of treatments and eventually a cure for the disease. In addition, The Association’s public policy efforts empower people to advance public policies in our nation’s Capital that respond to the needs of people with ALS.

Steven Spielberg, Justin Bieber and Bill Gates are among many celebrities pouring buckets of ice water over their heads and donating to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease, in a fundraising effort that has gone viral. Since June, several thousand people worldwide have recorded themselves getting drenched, then posted the stunt online and challenged others to do the same, or pledge USD 100 to ALS research. Many have done both, in an effort that has raised millions of dollars for the ALS Association, which combats amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Some 30,000 Americans have ALS, which attacks the nervous system and eventually leaves victims paralysed. In just weeks the ‘ALS Ice Bucket Challenge’ has swelled into a global phenomenon, with dozens of stars getting wet: Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, James Franco, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez and Jon Bon Jovi are among them.

Politicians and sports figures went at it too, including New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and basketball superstar LeBron James. Bare-chested English footballer David Beckham got in on the act, as did World Cup stars Neymar of Brazil and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.

Normally reserved former US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan can be seen gleefully dumping ice water over his wife, MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, recorded himself taking icewater to the head, responding to a challenge by Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. Ethel Kennedy, the 86-year-old widow of senator Robert Kennedy, doused herself and challenged President Barack Obama to do the same. The world’s most powerful man declined but promised a donation, according to the White House.

The charitable challenge’s popularity has spread around the globe in recent days, particularly to Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Germany. Facebook said that between June 1 and August 17 more than 28 million people mentioned the challenge on the social network, and 2.4 million videos were posted. The phenomenon can largely be attributed to Pete Frates, a one-time athlete in Boston whose struggle with ALS turned the Ice Bucket Challenge into a viral fundraising sensation.

Charlie Sheen ruins ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Charlie Sheen has always had trouble following the tried-and-tested route. Instead of pouring ice-cold water over himself like David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, Sheen filled his bucket with money instead. He says on video: ‘Oh, wait, that’s not ice,’ Sheen says. ‘That’s $10,000 in cash, which I am donating to the ALS foundation.’ Let’s face it ice is going to melt, but this money is going to actually help people. So I am here by calling out Jon Cryer (Alan Harper), Chuck Lorre (creator of Two and a Half Men) and Ashton Kutcher (Sheen’s replacement on the show) to identically do what I just did. Come on, it’s for a great cause. Have a great day.’

So why are they doing it?

Well the challenge involves pouring a bucket a bucket of cold ice water over their heads to raise awareness and fight ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The challenge is simple, pour ice-cold water over your head and then challenge someone else to do it. The person challenged has to do so within 24 hours or donate $100 to fight ALS. Even if a person completes the challenge, they’re welcome to donate the money.

What is ALS?

ALS is a fatal disease where people lose muscle control, including the ability to speak, eat or even breathe. Life expectancy after being diagnosed is between 2-5 years and current treatment can only extend it by a few months.

How did it start?

The ALS Association credits Pete Frates, a former Boston College baseball player for making the challenge popular. He’s been living with the disease since 2012, and it has become a phenomenon since Frates took the challenge at the end of last month.

Has it helped raise awareness?

The ALS Association has already received over $4 million in donations between July 29^thand 12^th August which suggests that people are definitely aware about the condition. Read more about ALS – causes, diagnosis, symptoms and diagnosis

Photo source: Getty images

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Published: August 20, 2014 9:16 am | Updated:August 26, 2014 11:04 am

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