The ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ has gone viral. It’s filling the Twitter and Facebook feeds of people from all walks of life, from all over the nation, in an effort to raise awareness for ALS, also known as ‘Lou Gehrig’s Disease’.
ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Schlerosis, is a disease that affects nerve cells within the brain and spinal cord. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons affects the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement. Patients within the later stage of ALS, may even become totally paralyzed.
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The challenge which began when Massachusetts resident, Pete Frates, who has lived with ALS since 2012, along with his family, helped make the challenge viral. The challenge involves people getting doused with buckets of ice water on video, posting that video to social media, then nominating others to do the same.
Bensalem resident, Rachael Albert, wants to change everyone’s idea of what the #IceBucketChallenge is really about. She thinks the flooding of videos on social media has made the cause lose its effect and forget its original purpose. Albert has said that by dumping ice on yourself, you are simulating in a way, what ALS sufferers deal with on a daily basis. A ‘numbness’ which can be debilitating for most of their life.
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Albert, a charismatic character, said in addition to donating to the cause she wanted to extend her reach to an audience bigger than her friends and family, by challenging three celebrities to take part. Dave Matthews of Dave Matthews Band, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, and Comedian Chelsea Handler have all been nominated by Albert. “I feel like a regular person like me hasn’t nominated a celebrity yet,” she said.
You can help Albert’s quest by sharing the above video, and tweeting @davematthewsbnd, @pinkfloyd, and @chelseahandler. Be sure to use the #icecelebs.
