Photo by: Abby Bellow
In a social media driven culture, trends and movements gain and lose publicity at rapid rates, however, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge could leave lasting positive effects.
Pete Frates and Pat Quinn, two men afflicted with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly know as Lou Gehrig’s disease, created the ice bucket challenge with the intention to spread awareness and raise research funds. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The motor neurons, which control muscle movement, eventually begin dying off and the patient becomes completely paralyzed.
Currently, there is only one medication for ALS but it does not cure the disease.
“What people don’t know about the disease is how severe it actually is,” senior Mackenzie Olmstead said. “It is shocking how quickly the disease spreads throughout the body. You lose the ability to walk, talk and use your hands. Eventually you can’t even breathe on your own and you end up suffocating.”
Olmstead’s grandmother was afflicted with ALS. She witnessed the effects of the disease first-hand.
“It was really hard for all of us to watch my grandmother’s motor skills taken away from her,” Olmstead said.
According to the ALS Association website, 90-95 percent of cases occur randomly with no clear risk factors. The other five to 10 percent are inherited. There are currently more than 12,000 confirmed cases of ALS in the US.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has quickly made its way across social media. Celebrities to former presidents have participated in the recent craze, which has rapidly increased ALS awareness.
“It’s great how many people have participated, and it’s amazing how much support and funding it has raised,” sophomore Abby deSteiguer said.
Since the ice bucket challenge went viral, the ALS Association has received more than $100 million in donations from across the globe in the last month, according to the ALS Association. In August 2013 the association received $2.8 million.
“The word gratitude doesn’t do enough to express what we are feeling right now,” Barbara Newhouse, president and CEO of the ALS Association, said in a statement. “We recognize a profound sense of urgency and are engaged in discussions about how we’re going to put this money to work in the short term and into the future.”
The leading researcher in the cause of ALS is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
The Ice Bucket Challenge created exponentially more publicity for ALS.
“I am thrilled that the Ice Bucket Challenge has brought so much attention and funding to ALS and research for a cure,” Oklahoma Christian President John deSteiguer said.
Junior Gage Pabst said he knew very little about ALS before people began dumping freezing water over their heads.
“I can only hope they are using the money and awareness raised to truly benefit those in need,” Pabst said.
According to Charity Navigator, 72.4 percent of the money raised was spent on the program, including research and education. Fundraising received 16.5 percent of the money and administrative fees took up the last 11.1 percent.
“I think the Ice Bucket Challenge has been a great way to raise awareness of this horrific disease and to also raise funds for research,” Olmstead said. “I hope that we can find a cure.”
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