The internet has gone viral with videos of celebrities and other popular personalities taking the �Ice Bucket challenge� and daring three others to do the same. Here is what you need to know about it:
What is the ice bucket challenge?
It�s an effort to raise awareness of ALS where participants must dump a bucket of ice cold water and then dare someone to do the same. If they can�t, the alternative is to donate $100 to the ALS association
How did it start?
The ice bucket challenge went viral on social media after a US baseball player and ALS patient, Pete Frates, floated the idea of the challenge in a video on a social networking site. He got the idea from a friend
The impact
More than 1.2 million videos were shared on Facebook between June 1 and August 13. The challenge was mentioned more than 2.2 million times on Twitter since July 29, after Frates� appeal
The funds
According to the ALS website, it has so far received nearly $23 million.
US baseball player and ALS patient, Pete Frates floated the idea of the challenge.
What is ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is also referred to as Lou Gehrig�s Disease. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
Life expectancy
About 20% people with ALS live 5 years or more, up to 10% live more than 10 years and about 5% live up to 20 years after diagnosis
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