In honor of ALS Awareness Month, ALS patient advocate Dagmar Munn reflects on the legacy of the Ice Bucket Challenge — its origins in the ALS community, its impact, and why it still matters today. As the campaign finds new life in other causes, Dagmar urges us to remember its roots and continue advocating for ALS awareness, research, and support.
Transcript
Hello, ALS community! This is Dagmar Munn from ALS News Today.
In recognition of ALS awareness month, I wanted to highlight something that’s been of particular interest in the ALS community, and that is the ice bucket challenge. While this is a viral fundraiser that started in 2014 to raise money for ALS research and awareness about the disease, it has since resurfaced and been adopted for other awareness purposes as well.
Recently, a group of students at the University of South Carolina revived the ice bucket challenge to spread awareness about mental health.
I think it’s great that many people are jumping on this campaign and continuing to spread awareness, but I also want to recognize that the ice bucket challenge originated as a means of supporting the ALS community. If you are participating in the ice bucket challenge, I want to say thank you, and I encourage you to look into the history so that you understand its roots.
More than a decade after the ice bucket challenge launched, we still have a ways to go in terms of funding ALS research and providing resources and support for our community. This ALS awareness month, we encourage everyone to support and advocate for our community in whatever way possible. Make your voices heard!
