Ive seen a lot of people get really cynical towards the ALS ice bucket challenge calling it everything from stupid to f***ing pointless. Ive chimed in individually on a lot of these threads and given my own story/perspective. While I agree that it is a goofy way to raise awareness, the fact of the matter is, any awareness is a great thing. For those of you who dont know, ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is responsible for roughly 2 deaths per every 100,000 people annually. That being the case, it gets very little attention. The disease itself attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord eventually leaving the patient completely paralyzed and unable to speak but with a fully intact mind. It occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries. It can literally strike anyone at any time, regardless of how healthy you are. Its awful on all levels and I genuinely hope that none of you ever have to deal with it. Enter the Ice Bucket Challenge and why its not f***ing pointless. This viral campaign has started the first national conversation on the subject since Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with it in 1939. In doing so it has helped patients and families to know that people know they are out there. And equally as important, it has raised a ton of money that is desperately needed for research. So, before you hate on people for dumping ice water on their heads, consider how this campaign may be positively effecting people who either have the disease, or know someone who does. If it spares one family the helplessness and isolation that mine had to go through, then it is entirely worth it. The ALS Association tells FOX 25 theyve raised $1.35 million nationally from July 29 to August 11. A spokesperson for the association said they raised $22,000 during the same period in 2013. The surge in donations comes after the Ice Bucket Challenge took social media by storm. myfoxboston/story/26248988/als-association-reports-more-than-13-million-donations-since-end-of-july
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 19:27:54 +0000
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