If you haven’t heard about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, I’m going to assume you’ve been living under a rock. Of course, if you have been living under a rock, let me explain. The Ice Bucket Challenge is simple: you get nominated after someone you know completes it and within 24 hours of the nomination you have to either get a bucket of ice water dumped on your head, or donate one hundred dollars to ALSA.org. To make it even sweeter, even if you do take the bucket, you still donate ten dollars. Either way, you win.
What is ALS? Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is what it stands for. The disease itself is one where the motor neurons in the brain (those are what tell your various body parts to move) begin to deteriorate and die. Without motor neurons, you cannot control body movements. People with ALS slowly lose motor neurons, which means that as their brains deteriorate, they become unable to move like they used to. It can start with something as simple as stiff or tingling hands and usually results in someone being completely paralyzed. In the late stages of the disease, people with ALS have to be assisted with breathing, eating, moving, and living as a whole. It is important that we bring attention to diseases like ALS and open up our hearts and pocketbooks to help try to find treatment.
If you don’t watch any of the challenges below (though you should just for laughs), you should watch this one featuring Anthony Carbajal to not only get another funny ALS ice bucket challenge video, but also to learn a little bit about ALS from someone who has been diagnosed.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h07OT8p8Oik]
So in the spirit of generosity and good old fun to raise awareness for ALS, our wonderful editor and co-founder Therese challenged the entire Nerdophiles crew to complete the ice bucket challenge.
The challenge:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyphD4iZFBo]
Our second editor and co-founder, Sam (who called out all our friends over at The Futon Alliance).
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zus2ionrRGo]
Blogger (me!), Katie.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6vH6CGkPEA]
We’re still waiting for some of our bloggers to jump in and join the fun (others have kindly donated instead), but we’re loving this viral challenge. We’re enjoying the celebrity entries even more. Here are a few of the staff favorites that have come out in the past few days.
Chris Evans
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb3DfeN12K4]
Chris Pratt
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_iCIg2oCCs]
The Foo Fighters
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLZOjLv0_6k]
Fall Out Boy
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw15Kx3Oa4o]
Gwen Stefani
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGIIH6Xd6GM]
Oprah
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FCxM8jgftw]
And finally…FLULA Borg, one of my favorite Youtube stars.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxXXh7vz8nU]
Of course there are many more amazing ice bucket challenge videos out on the world wide web, so check them out. Also, please don’t forget to check out ALSA.org or ALS.net and consider donating to help further the study of this debilitating and deadly disease.
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