We have all seen it. You can’t flip a channel or scan the internet without seeing someone new doing the challenge. The ice bucket challenge has swept the nation by storm taking over every community and neighborhood.

So what’s this whole idea about dumping ice cold water (not always cold for some of those cheaters out there) on top of your head as people point and laugh as you tremble and make funny cold faces in disbelief?

Well if you haven’t heard the story or heard the wrong story; allow me to give it to you in a nutshell. This whole challenge only went main stream a couple of weeks ago when a former Boston college baseball player, who was diagnosed with ALS two years ago, got his large support group to join in the challenge.

No one knows who the first participants in the first challenge were, but many credit Pete Frates and his community of friends as the driving force. Since the large amount of participation, the donations have tenfold for the ALS association that uses the money for research and care for those with ALS.

The popularity has been a much needed boost for a disease that is not notably recognized due to its rarity and minimal publicity. The sad situation with the popularity of the challenge is that many still do not know what ALS is and the importance of the research.

So what is ALS?

Popularized by Lou Gehrig’s diagnoses, ALS for the most part is a motor neuron disease. Without voluntary and involuntary muscle control, life sustainability becomes very difficult. The diagnoses are usually not good 2 to 5 years of remaining life for a person diagnosed with the disease.

That said, many individuals like Steven Hawking have lived with the disease for over 50 years. Some of the reasons for those that are capable of living longer with the disease can be due to the type of ALS. There are different forms of ALS with some forms that progress very slowly over time. Also the brain is sometimes compromised in ALS causing dementia and speeding up the process.

In all, this is one of those diseases you wish upon no one and only hope we find a cure soon before too many good people are taken by this debilitating disease. Stand up and support something that is for a great cause and not because it’s popular.

-Phil