The internet has so much influence on our lives today its unbelievable. So much so that a message or video can go viral in a matter of seconds.
Pete Frates 29, the former Boston College baseball is the reason there is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge all around the world today.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
After being diagnosed Pete decided to make a difference by spreading the awareness of ALS. His main goal was to draw more attention and more action to the disease. As the disease progressed he lost his ability to speak. His friends and family decided to support him with the power of social media and thats how the Ice bucket challenge begun.
It started with family and friends and soon went viral when celebrities, organisations, societies and individuals started doing it.
How Does This Work?
Simple. After someone did the ice bucket challenge, they would nominate someone else. The person nominated had two options. either donate to the ALS foundation or do the challenge and nominate someone else after.
Its funny how some people are just doing the ice bucket challenge without even knowing what its about. They do it without donating to the cause. Some people just think its a viral act that started from nowhere and are following a trend which is a shame.
According to the ALS Association, in the two-week span — July 29 to Aug. 14 — after the Ice Bucket Challenge began, almost 146,000 new donors have come on board. During that time frame, $7.6 million was donated to the ALS Association’s various chapters, compared with $1.4 million during the same period in 2013. Read more.
Talking about causes did you know there is a Rice bucket challenge in India?
Bet you didnt.
In India n 100 million people lack access to clean drinking water so there wouldn’t be a point in throwing water they don’t have so Manju Kalanidhi, a 38-year-old journalist from Hyderabad who reports on the global rice market, decided to create her own challenge when she heard about the icebucket challenge. Instead of pouring iced water she poured rice!
Ok thats a lie, instead of pouring ice water, they donate a bucket of rice to help the hungry. You scoop a bowl of rice and give it to the closest needy person around you.
Great isn’t it. Lets see if it goes viral after all it is a good cause.
Have a great weekend and stay tuned because PlannedDeparture has something great in store for you.