I’ve been gathering my thoughts on this subject for the better part of the last two weeks while the ice bucket challenge has gained enormous attention on social media and sometime after by the mainstream news. For those not familiar, the #IceBucketChallenge was created in order to raise awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Some quick facts about ALS:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord.  When these cells die, voluntary muscle control and movement dies with them.  Patients in the later stages of the disease are totally paralyzed, yet in most cases, their minds remain sharp and alert.
• Every day, an average of 15 people are newly diagnosed with ALS — more than 5,600 people per year. As many as 30,000 Americans may currently be affected by ALS. Annually, ALS is responsible for two deaths per 100,000 people.
• The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from time of diagnosis.  With recent advances in research and improved medical care, many patients are living longer, more productive lives. Half of all those affected live at least three years or more after diagnosis.  About 20 percent live five years or more, and up to ten percent will survive more than ten years.
• ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries.  ALS can strike anyone. Every single American is threatened by this disease.

The challenge itself goes like this. Somebody you know challenges you to take the ice bucket challenge where as you’d guess, you will have to pour a bucket of ice on your head or donate $100 to ALS foundation to help fund research. The challenge itself has been conducted by many industry leaders like Tim Cook (Apple), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), and celebrities like Patrick Stewart, Tom Cruise, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Chris Pratt (one of my favorite ones). Even those in the gaming community like Lisa Foiles have answered the call. While all have decided to take a bucket of ice on their heads (except Patrick Stewart… you’ll just have to watch it.), all have donated to the cause as well.

As you’d expect with all things on the internet, it wasn’t long before the naysayers and the cynics of the world turned their attention to the ice bucket challenge. Complaints varied from it being a thing for the rich, to too many people doing it, to simply just stop with these videos. But I say ‘frak’ them and think you should join me, among others and take the #IceBucketChallenge. Let me explain why.

Let’s be honest. This has been a pretty shitty summer for the entire world. As war rages in Syria, Ukrain and Russia continue to exchange fire over Crimea where an airliner was shot down, Palestine and Israel are back at it, and there is a new and rising Ebola outbreak in Africa. Things at home aren’t much peachier with droughts in California, more shootings, and the events at Ferguson that continue to play out over social media. Yea, the planet and its people seem to have finally all collectively lost it so it’s no wonder that a challenge like dumping some cold water on your head took off.

If anything, people around the world deserve a break and if dumping a bucket full of ice water gives us that, then we deserve it. We also deserve the happiness that these videos bring with them, no matter how silly or repetitive. We deserve the moments of joy that they bring and if they don’t do it for you, then you can ignore them. It’s as if you click and interact with every tweet you see or every post you scroll past on Facebook. Beyond that, this challenge has helped raise over $40 million for ALS and that’s a good thing. Every dent we can make towards any disease is a good one.

So while you might here people are tired of this challenge, I say you deserve a break from this chaotic world we live in. So go ahead and dump a bucket of ice on your head and if you can, donate to ALS, be it $100 or just $5 and feel good that you’ve been part of a great cause. While I nominated @davidscottjaffe from the developer community, Doc_Gamer from the SRN family, and @IsaacMorataya from the SRN community, I challenge all of you to take have a little fun, dump a bucket of ice on your head, film it, post it, and donate to ALS.

For those wanting to learn more about this disease or where to donate, please visit the ALS foundation page.

Discuss:

Have you taken the #IceBucketChallenge?