I've encountered too many people over the last few weeks that say they refuse to do that challenge, nominated or not because it's only a ploy for attention.
The truth: 95% percent of the people participating, kids, teenagers, adults, and celebrities, are in it for the publicity and because it's trendy. If I was nominated to do it, I'd do it because my friends are doing it and because it's gone around my favorite hockey team.
The people that aren't doing it on principal are annoying though. They want to say that since people are doing it because it's trendy that it's stupid. They want to say no one is donating and no one knows what they're doing this for.
First of all, I'd like to say that the challenge was created to raise awareness of the disease. Until the Pittsburgh Penguins starting doing this (Craig Adams and his family did it in memory of his father-in-law who passed away from the disease), I had no idea ALS was even a thing. I didn't know anything about it. Once the challenge went viral, I started looking into it. I'm curious by nature.
I'm sure some people (most people) won't look up information about the disease. I'm sure some people will not donate. However, if you choose only to donate if nominated, or donate without being nominated, that's great for you and that's great for the ALS Association.
Just like with anything else though, you don't have to be so self righteous and stubborn to say that your way is the only way to do something and your way is the only way that is right. In my opinion, wimping out and not doing the challenge is worse. ALS is a painful condition that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord. People with the disease can't choose to "pass" on it and donate money and wash their hands of it. If you have this disease you have to live with it forever. According to the ALS Association website, "the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed."
People with ALS can't just take a pass on it when they feel like it.
No one wants icy water dumped on their head. It messes up your hair, it's cold. It's uncomfortable. It's nothing compared to what a patient with ALS has to feel every day. So in my opinion, anyone that passes on the challenge is worse off than someone who doesn't donate, if they actually are doing it for the cause and not for social media attention.
In an ideal world, everyone challenged would donate in addition to dumping water on their head. That's obviously not going to be the case in a world full of selfish, egotistical people. Though, anyone that is donating and skipping the challenge shouldn't look down their nose at those who are.
If you want to donate, that's your choice. Everyone has the free choice to donate or not donate, to participate or not participate.
I'd also like to point out that the ALS Association encourages this challenge. Money is important. Awareness will not find a cure for the disease, though there is less of a chance of finding a cure for a disease that is obscure. Cancer is widely talked about, as is depression, diabetes, and heart disease. ALS is not a common disease in most circles and to get people donating, you must first get people talking.
Don't be a stick in the mud or self-righteous if you are challenged, don't pass because it is uncomfortable. If you do the challenge, don't be an uneducated attention seeker. Read up on the disease and donate something, even if it's only five dollars. Better yet, let's just have a little fun, raise some awareness and quit judging each other.
If you would like to donate to the ALS Association, visit this link, which will take you directly to the donation page: https://secure2.convio.net/alsa/site/Donation2;jsessionid=5B36CF268E0F9EF1B40B0EE002933063.app275b?df_id=27420&27420.donation=form1
You can select a gift amount, or enter your own, and you will be asked if your donation is in connection with the ice bucket challenge.
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