So I scroll down my Facebook newsfeed and notice my favourite musician post a shirtless video of himself. So I click on it – obviously. He then starts talking about accepting the ALS Ice-Bucket Challenge before dousing himself with a large bucket of ice and water. Such madness (and sexiness). But why? It’s for a good cause, to raise awareness of ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease.
ALS, in plain English, is a debilitating disease in which motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord die. The result is the loss of muscle movement and ultimately ending in a slow and painful death.
Celebs like J.Lo, Taylor Swift and even Oprah got in on the action and nominated their famous friends to do the same within 24 hours or pledge $100 to an ALS foundation.
ALS foundations received more than $15 million since the first challenge mid-July. And that is exactly how this social-media craze makes an impact in case you’re thinking: “But how exactly does pouring a bucket of ice over your head help sufferers?”
Presenter Katlego Maboe took one for the Expresso team and challenged TV personalities Poppy Ntshongwana, Maps Maponyane and minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula (Mbalula still has to respond). Maboe said that this disease has affected him personally as his sister was diagnosed with it. Former Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen is another local who suffers from a similar motor neuron disease and his foundation called the J9 Foundation was established to provide support services for sufferers and their families. The ALS sufferer took on the ice-bucket challenge. Watch the video below.
Why not start the challenge amongst your friends or donate to ALS charities like J9? It’s a good excuse to have a bit of fun. Take a look below of a few of our favourite ice-bucket challenges.
Joost getting wet (and cold) to raise awareness on the disease which he too suffers from.
How she did it with a straight face boggles our minds.
Trust rock band Foo Fighters to take things to the next level. The band re-enacted a scene from horror film Carrie for their challenge.
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