The Ice Bucket Challenge, sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, is an activity involving dumping a bucket of ice water on someone's head to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and encourage donations to research. It went viral on social media during July–August 2014.[1][2] In the US, many people participate for the ALS Association, and in the UK, many people participate for the Motor Neurone Disease Association,[3] although some individuals have opted to donate their money from the Ice Bucket Challenge to other organizations.[4]
The challenge encourages nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads and then nominating others to do the same. A common stipulation is that nominated participants have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation.[5]