Ice Bucket Challenge continues to draw well-needed attention for ALS research

As celebrities and television personalities continue to show their support for ALS research, the Ice Bucket Challenge has quickly extended to the sports world. During this past week, athletes from all around the world and across different sports have generously poured ice-cold buckets of water over their heads for a great cause.

According to the ALS Association (you may find more information at alsa.org), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a horrible progressive degenerative disease that effects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons, which reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles in the body, often die which causes the brain to lose its ability to control muscle movement. This often may lead patients to become totally paralyzed in the latter stages of the disease. Although there have been treatment to slow down the progress of ALS in patients, extended research is required to find a cure. The ice bucket challenge helps spread awareness for ALS research and encourages many to donate to the research in hopes that someday a cure could be discovered.

The challenge starts with an individual or group who would go on with the challenge before naming three individuals who they would like to see take it on. The three individuals would subsequently have 24 hours to either dump a bucket of ice water over their heads or make a donation to the ALS Association at alsa.org or do both as many already have.

All over the internet, one may find footage and pictures of the likes of major football stars like Payton Manning or the entire New York Jets squad as they get soaked and drenched. Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has recently took on the challenge and has called out Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Lil Wayne. Even WWE Executive and former pro wrestling star Triple H has actively participated, challenging his father in-law and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon who has already responded.

Given the fact that this is primarily a blog focusing on basketball, I could not leave out the fact that Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, the entire USA basketball team, and many more active NBA players have already accepted the challenge. It is pretty hard to pinpoint who has challenged who and where everything starts but it is always nice to see numerous communities, organizations, and individuals who are willing to spare a couple of minutes to spread awareness and to donate to a great cause. Take a look at some of the compilation of NBA greats and what they have done to show their support:

Video Courtesy of Ashok Gamer via YouTube

I think that the ALS Ice Bucket challenge is only one of many examples of how the social media can spread support and well-needed media attention to those organizations that need it the most. These are the moments where we all have to accept the fact that the social media can be be a positive and powerful tool to be utilized for the betterment of our communities; it is really up to the people to dictate what they do with that power.

Once again, for or more information on ALS research and to donate, visit alsa.org.