The Icy Ice Bucket Challenge in South Africa

The power of social media.

In this day and age, our lifestyles have been modernized. We have transformed from being a traditional generation to being a technological generation, thus making social media a very powerful tool, which educates us, connects us to our loved ones, as well as keeping us updated as to what is going on around us, nationally and globally.  

And so it began…

Pete Frates, doing the Ice Bucket Challenge

It is unclear at this stage to determine the origin of the Ice Bucket challenge and when it was introduced to the public but with the help of the social media, we have an idea as to who is accredited for the creation of the challenge.Pete Frates, a Bostonian who was diagnosed with ALS in March 2012, is most commonly associated with its origin. With that being said Pat Quinn, a friend of Frates who was also diagnosed with ALS in 2013, is also credited with creating the challenge.

Did you know???

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is an activity that involves the dumping of a bucket of ice water on someone's head to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and encourage donations for research. The challenge often called the "Cold Water Challenge" became popular on social media in areas of the Northern United States in mid-2013 to early 2014.

Through social media, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was rapidly popularized. This goes to show how much of an impact social media has on campaigns and organisations in the current technological age. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram instantly made people aware as to how serious this disease is.

Stop die lorrie!!! Said the South Africans

South Africans have certainly not been left in the dark when it came to this initiative. The trend quickly grew popular in our country and we have seen on the social media platforms from the likes of Top-billing presenter, Jeannie D, iconic golf player Gary Player and so forth take part in this charitable campaign by posting up their videos doing the Ice Bucket Challenge.

Although it has not reached large masses yet our celebrities are playing a role to help promote the awareness and fight against ALS. One of our very own former springbok scrum-half, Joost van der Westhuizen has recently publicly admitted that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). News of his diagnosis challenged the entire springbok team in order to raise more awareness.