THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE SHOWS THAT GROWNUPS TOO CAN'T RESIST PEER PRESSURE - Meanwhile the campaign's co-founder died in a diving accident

There has been some backlash against the ice water challenge.  It can make some people cringe to see grown ups, many of them past middle age, submitting to peer pressure.  

 

True, this gimmick has raised money.  But it has also demonstrated how community pressure can make people of all ages submit to an undignified and unpleasant experience  - even though it is for a very good cause.

How it works:  if you are challenged by one of those having the iced water dumped on their head, and you don't raise to the challenge, then you are expected to donate $100 to the ALS charity.

 

If you go through this shivering experience, and maybe post a photo or video of yourself taking the challenge, you get to nominate three others to take the challenge.

 

Photo - George W. Bush, P.K. Subban and Lindsay Lohan are some of the well-known people who have participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge, a fundraiser for ALS research.  (Photo Facebook, YouTube, NBC, National Post)

Could the same amount of money be raised by celebrities appealing for donations?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  

In any case there is an issue with accountability, since we don't know whether the challenged are making donations or not.

What is ALS?

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. It attacks nerve cells and can lead to complete paralysis. Average life expectancy is two to five years after diagnosis. 

 

Sometimes the ice bucket experience has gone wrong:

Kentucky firefighters hurt in ice bucket challenge accident

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Two central Kentucky firefighters are still hospitalized a day after they were shocked by a power line while helping out with an "ice bucket challenge."

Campbellsville Fire Capt. Tony Grider was in critical condition in the University of Louisville Medical Center's burn unit Friday afternoon, a hospital spokesman said. Simon Quinn was in fair condition there.

Both men were on the fire truck's ladder when it got too close to a power line after dumping water on Campbellsville University's marching band on Thursday in the charity stunt to raise awareness for the disease ALS. 
Campbellsville Fire Chief Kyle Smith told WDRB-TV on Friday that Grider suffered burns on 55 percent of his body and was sedated.  Two other firefighters were hurt, but they are out of the hospital.

Campbellsville Police Chief Tim Hazlette said the power line was never touched Thursday morning, but it carried such a high voltage that it was able to energize the ladder truck, shocking the firefighters.

 

Read more - http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kentucky-firefighters-hurt-in-ice-bucket-challenge-accident/


And it has led to at least one case of animal abuse:

Daily Mail - Is this the CRUELEST ice bucket challenge? Thug dunks PUPPY in freezing water in sick twist on charity phenomenon 

Teenage boy's online video is under investigation by the RSPCA

Even his own Facebook friends criticised his cruel stunt

'Any responsible pet owner would be shocked by this,' says RSPCA 

A teenager shoved a puppy face down into a bucket of freezing water in a mimic of the ‘ice bucket challenge’ fundraising craze. 

In a clip posted online, the dog could be seen desperately trying to wriggle free, yelping as her owner thrust her into the water.  

During the 19-second video the youth from London says: ‘Here’s my dog and she’s doing the ice bucket challenge. She wants to nominate all the other dogs here and all the cats as well, yeah.’  

Read more - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2733198/Is-CRUELEST-ice-bucket-challenge-Thug-dunks-PUPPY-freezing-water-sick-twist-charity-phenomenon.html


Very tragic news:

Co-founder of the ALS ice bucket challenge, Corey Griffin, has drowned. 

 

In a very unfortunate turn of events, Corey Griffin, one of the founders of the now viral ALS ice bucket challenge, has passed away last week. Griffin drowned while on a diving trip in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Griffin was only 27.

The young philanthropist help make the ice bucket challenge a worldwide phenomenon when he got involved with ALS research after his close friend Pete Frates was diagnosed with the disease. Griffin reportedly dove off a building in a wharf and into the water and subsequently drowned. The place is commonly used by locals to dive off from to get into the water.

Read more:

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/563736/20140825/als-ice-bucket-challenge.htm#.U_q96cog-M8

And here:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/als-ice-bucket-challenge-cofounder-corey-griffin-drowns-aged-27-9681129.html

REFERENCES

Science Daily articles on ALS http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/amyotrophic_lateral_sclerosis/
 
WebMD on ALS - http://www.webmd.com/brain/understanding-als-basics

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