It’s hard to ignore the outpouring (pun intended) of generosity toward ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in recent weeks. As individuals and groups take the ice bucket challenge and donate in support of the cause, many are left wondering if the social media hype has been worth it.
According to a press release from the ALS Association, the organization has received $88.5 million as of Tuesday, August 26, compared to $2.6 million last year. Nearly, 1.9 million new donors have chosen to support the cause.
Another aspect of the success of this social media blitz is the awareness raised. As parents help their children dump buckets of ice water on their heads and vice versa, the hope is that they are also using the time to educate their children about the debilitating disease.
View a fun and educational version of the ice bucket challenge by SIU medical students here.

ALS Quick Facts:

• ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
• ALS most commonly affects people aged 40-70.
• It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
• The death of the motor neurons causes the brain to lose control of muscle movement.st
• The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons eventually leads to death.
• Patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.

For more about the ALS Association’s efforts: alsa.org

-rb