by Alex Doust
Good lord it’s everywhere! Another challenge has gone viral, another type of video you’ll see when you log onto Twitter or Facebook. We’ve all seen the cinnamon challenge, which is quite a self-destructive thing to do, but this time around the challenge is not only less threatening, it’s hilarious to watch and most importantly, it’s for a good cause! So here I am to explain what it’s all about.
Good lord it’s everywhere! Another challenge has gone viral, another type of video you’ll see when you log onto Twitter or Facebook. We’ve all seen the cinnamon challenge, which is quite a self-destructive thing to do, but this time around the challenge is not only less threatening, it’s hilarious to watch and most importantly, it’s for a good cause! So here I am to explain what it’s all about.
Quite obviously, the Ice Bucket Challenge involves tipping a bucket of ice-cold water over your head. Now, you may ask, why in the name of Peter Capaldi would I want to do that? Well, there are many reasons; Honour, Loyalty, Pride… And because it’s for charity.
So, here’s a good place to start if you’ve just been challenged! The rules are simple, you have 24 hours (commonly, you could have up to a week) in which you must video yourself having a bucket of cold water poured over your head. There are many rules regarding donations, some say if you do the challenge you pay £10 and if not, you’d pay £100, others say it’s in lieu of making a donation at all, which has led to some criticisms, but if people raise awareness, funds will soon follow. The most commonly accepted donation is £3 to the victims, £10 to those who refuse. So if you’ve been challenged, step one, take out your wallet. Step Two, take your phone out your pocket, because you don’t want it to get wet…
The craze started in 2013 in America, it didn’t go viral until very recently when the Golf Channel Morning Show did a live on air version, after that a popular golfer did the challenge and challenged his family, some of whom suffered ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). The challange soon spread and suddenly, we’ve got a viral phenomenon!
So, here’s a good place to start if you’ve just been challenged! The rules are simple, you have 24 hours (commonly, you could have up to a week) in which you must video yourself having a bucket of cold water poured over your head. There are many rules regarding donations, some say if you do the challenge you pay £10 and if not, you’d pay £100, others say it’s in lieu of making a donation at all, which has led to some criticisms, but if people raise awareness, funds will soon follow. The most commonly accepted donation is £3 to the victims, £10 to those who refuse. So if you’ve been challenged, step one, take out your wallet. Step Two, take your phone out your pocket, because you don’t want it to get wet…
The craze started in 2013 in America, it didn’t go viral until very recently when the Golf Channel Morning Show did a live on air version, after that a popular golfer did the challenge and challenged his family, some of whom suffered ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). The challange soon spread and suddenly, we’ve got a viral phenomenon!
In America, the money is donated to the ALS Association, who fund research and promotion of awareness of ALS, a devastating neurodegenerative disease which stops you being able to breathe, swallow and speaking. It’s the disease which confined Stephen Hawking to a wheelchair. In the UK money is commonly donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the UK Sister charity of ASL Association. However, seeing a chance to raise awareness and funds, other charities such as MacMillan Cancer Support are doing their own brand of the challenge.
It’s a great use of social media and it’s fantastic to see people raising money and awareness of these charities, just by following the trend or not backing down from a challenge. And it’s such an accessible idea, who can’t find a bucket and a tap? But most of all, it’s hilarious to watch when someone you might not be too fond of, Justin Bieber, for example, does the challenge. Then there’s the ones you respect; Oprah, Mark Zuckerberg and Tom Hiddleston spring to mind. With unexpected celebrities participating left right and centre, including Bill Gates, Robert Downey Jnr, Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks, don't be surprised to see your favourite taking a cold shower at some time in the future! Oh, and massive respect to David Bautista for taking an ice BATH!
So if you get challenged, remember, yeah there’s people out there who don’t like you who will be watching with glee, but you get to nominate them! And charities benefit in the process of all this evil fun! So, let’s take a look at what most of you came here to see, some of the finest Ice Bucket Challenges the internet has to offer! Oh, and our own Editor in Chief, too!
It’s a great use of social media and it’s fantastic to see people raising money and awareness of these charities, just by following the trend or not backing down from a challenge. And it’s such an accessible idea, who can’t find a bucket and a tap? But most of all, it’s hilarious to watch when someone you might not be too fond of, Justin Bieber, for example, does the challenge. Then there’s the ones you respect; Oprah, Mark Zuckerberg and Tom Hiddleston spring to mind. With unexpected celebrities participating left right and centre, including Bill Gates, Robert Downey Jnr, Chris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks, don't be surprised to see your favourite taking a cold shower at some time in the future! Oh, and massive respect to David Bautista for taking an ice BATH!
So if you get challenged, remember, yeah there’s people out there who don’t like you who will be watching with glee, but you get to nominate them! And charities benefit in the process of all this evil fun! So, let’s take a look at what most of you came here to see, some of the finest Ice Bucket Challenges the internet has to offer! Oh, and our own Editor in Chief, too!
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