If you have been catching up on the social media trends, you will definitely catch a glimpse or hear about the innocuous #IceBucketChallenge. A wonderful cause at heart, the challenge first kicked off in the US by the family of Pete Frates, a baseball player who was diagnosed with ALS.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — also referred to as motor neurone disease, is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by muscle spasticity and rapidly progressive weakness due to muscle atrophy. It is the most common of the five motor neuron diseases. There is no known cure for ALS and research in this field can cost at least US$80 million.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, as literal as the name suggests, is dumping cold water over one’s head. The challenge dares nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads. Nominated people have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation for ALS research. This act has since gone viral and has raised over $41.8 million in donations from July 29 until Aug 21. Talk about the power of social media in our age and time. With so many participants including A-lister celebrities, who are our picks for the Top 5 Favourite #IceBucketChallenge?
5. Taylor Swift
Oh sweet Taylor, the country pop star with such affable personality. In her Ice Bucket Challenge, Taylor Swift asked her BFF, Jaime King to help her out, along with other non-celebrities. The challenge was done in a light and happy manner, with everyone splashing buckets of cold water on each other. Surprisingly, everyone in this challenge are pretty good-looking!
4. John Krasinski & Emily Blunt duo
My first reaction would be “what a cute couple”. John Krasinski first carried out his “ice-bucket challenge” (more like mug if you ask me) in the backyard, and wife Emily Blunt surprised him with a huge bucket of ice water. In return, John Krasinski dumped a bucket of ice water on Emily Blunt after she was held defenseless with groceries on both hands. Modern romanticism at its finest.
3. George Bush
Former U.S. President George Bush was comically going to write a cheque for the ALS foundation after mentioning how the challenge is not very “presidential” to be splashed with ice water. Wife Laura Bush surprised with a bucket of ice water over his head, with a cheeky liner “that cheque is for me.”A light-hearted video seeing the former president getting splashed – and eventually nominating Bill Clinton for the challenge!
2. Anna Wintour
Other than being an highly-regarded fashion icon and editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, also known as the ice-queen, is quite a charmer in the video. Together with her family, Anna Wintour takes on the challenge – it started with a solemn mood of sitting in an orderly manner on a bench, but as soon as the ice water came down on them, Wintour gave a scream before running off, all done with her iconic wayfarer in place.
1. Anthony Carbajal
No, he is not a celebrity but that does not discount his video. This is another reason why you should not take things only at face value. Do watch this video to the end. Many people take up the challenge, but they may be doing so in the aim of completing the challenge and missed out the part on raising awareness for the motor neuron disease. This speaks so much truth of people suffering from ALS.
Viral content works both ways – we have seen so many hopping on the bandwagon of dumping cold water on themselves to get the attention and hype but let us get back to the root of this online campaign – which is to raise awareness to the terrible neurodegenerative disease that could possibly affect any of us. Be passionate, be kind, spread the word for the good cause #ALSicebucketchallenge.
Writer: Leong Chee Sheng