3 minute read
Staff Editorial
from September 2014
by Le Journal
OPINION Lowering Temperatures,Raising Awareness
The Ice Bucket Challenge proves its effectiveness in raising awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
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THIS EDITORIAL REPRESENTS THE VIEW OF THE LE JOURNAL STAFF. TWENTY OUT OF 21 VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS VIEW.
By now almost everyone who is active on at least one social networking site has heard of the Ice Bucket Challenge.
Videos of people dumping buckets of icy cold water on themselves have dominated news feeds everywhere for the past month. The purpose of these videos is to raise money and awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a rare but serious condition that affects approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. each year, according to the ALS Association’s website.
The Ice Bucket Challenge has taken the world by storm, but some skeptics are questioning whether or not it is really benefiting the cause. Some view it as a silly, shallow social media fad rather than a legitimate fundraising movement.
Dumping buckets of ice water on people might not seem like a very effective fundraising effort, but it truly is benefiting the cause in many ways. With the enormity of this campaign, the Ice Bucket Challenge has been hugely worthwhile to ALS research by raising millions in funds, but also by calling the disease to peoples’ attention and encouraging them to be more actively involved in charity and volunteer work.
Participants in the challenge are encouraged to either dump ice water on themselves and donate $10 to the cause, or skip the ice and donate $100 instead.
While these amounts may not seem like much, with so many people participating in the challenge, it is beginning to add up. As of Sep. 7, the ALS Association had raised $110.5 million from the Ice Bucket Challenge alone. This is especially impressive when compared to the fact that at the same time last year, the association had only raised $2.5 million. If cold, hard cash isn’t convincing enough, look at how the Ice Bucket Challenge has impacted peoples’ awareness.
The way the challenge works is a person dumps ice water on their head, posts a video on social media as proof, and nominates five friends. Those friends nominate five of their friends, and little by little, the web grows larger. With every person who completes the challenge, five more people become aware of ALS. For a condition that was once virtually unknown to many, this kind of attention and support is a godsend.
Overall, the Ice Bucket Challenge has affected more than just ALS research; it has encouraged people to get involved with charity and volunteerism in general.
The challenge has become a platform for celebrities to encourage their fans to donate to worthy causes. With stars like Katy Perry, Leonardo DiCaprio and Iggy Azalea participating in the challenge, fans follow in their footsteps. The Ice Bucket Challenge has become a way for stars to have a positive influence on their fans and encourage them to do good.
For those who are still skeptical about whether or not the Ice Bucket Challenge is really helping anything, consider these facts.
When a movement like this reaches such a massive scale, it becomes more than just the latest internet/social media craze. The uniqueness of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has helped it become a chain reaction of kindness that will continue to change the world.
It is no longer the next Harlem Shake or Gangnam Style; it is something much bigger.
