ALS Ice Bucket Challenge vs. Severe Drought
It’s safe to say we have all seen our fair share of buckets of ice water being thrown over the heads of our friends, peers, and family. Everyone from Lil Wayne to Bill Gates has participated. While some call it wasteful, others find it heroic.
This is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
For those of you who don’t know, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Early on, patients experience symptoms such as cramps, stiffness and weakness in their muscles, slurred speech, and difficulty chewing or swallowing. These symptoms sometimes go unnoticed, but in later stages, patients can become completely paralyzed. Every day, an average of 15 people are diagnosed with ALS, affecting over 30,000 Americans to date.
To raise awareness, millions of Americans have drenched themselves in ice cold water in order to experience the same shocking numbness that ALS patients go through on a daily basis. After recording themselves doing the challenge, they nominate friends, family, and just about anybody to complete the same challenge within 24 hours. If those people fail to do so, they must donate to the cause.
This summer, the phenomenon took the U.S. by storm. These short but effective videos have cluttered the Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram feeds of thousands. According to the ALS Association, an astounding $4 million has been raised between July 29th to present day. Thanks to social media, there has been a gigantic leap in donations in comparison to last summer’s $1.12 million received.
While most seem to be on board with this viral fundraiser, some people feel that the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a waste of water because of our severe drought. According to the United States Drought Monitor, 58.41% of California is in an exceptional drought as of September 16th. With regard to the drought, Anna Cismaru, sophomore, feels it shouldn’t taint all the positivity that is being brought out through this challenge. Cismaru lost a dear friend in June of 2012 to ALS and when she and her family came to know about the Ice Bucket Challenge, they were “all for it.” Anna, on behalf of her family, speaks openly. “The challenge seems to have raised a lot of money and awareness for a disease that causes a lot of suffering and frustration. I think that the drought will end eventually and while we have no say in when it does, we do have a say in how much effort we put into researching this disease and stopping it.”
It’s clear that this is a cause worth fighting for. The sheer number of supporters are there to prove it. Yes, the severity of California’s drought does continue to increase. However, it shouldn’t stand as a reason to taint a fundraiser that has the potential to save lives.
