Origins of the Ice Bucket Challenge – Where Did It Come From?

Lately, there has been a sudden surge of videos circulating online challenging each other to pour buckets of ice water over themselves. Just type 'Ice Bucket Challenge' on YouTube, and you'll find hundreds of results.

The 'Ice Bucket Challenge' has been the hottest hashtag for the past few weeks. So, where did this movement originate? Why has the online community embraced it so passionately?

The 'Ice Bucket Challenge' (often referred to as the 'ALS Ice Bucket Challenge') is simply a dare to 'Pour a bucket of ice-cold water over your head,' initiated by Pete Frates, a baseball player from Boston College who suffers from ALS. ALS is a disease that impairs the function of nerve cells, often leading to paralysis. It's a dangerous condition with no cure yet, and the ALS organization is dedicated to researching it.

Thanks to Pete Frates, the ALS organization spread a challenge for those willing to accept it: to pour a bucket of ice water over themselves, ensuring they're chilled from head to toe, quite literally. But instead of shivering in discomfort, their hearts seem warmer because of the profoundly meaningful message it conveys: 'Take meaningful action to help those unfortunate individuals suffering from ALS.'

The action here can be:

Donating a sum of money to a fund or

Pouring icy water over the head and challenging 3 others to accept this challenge.

The heat of the Ice Bucket Challenge

The Ice Bucket Challenge spread like wildfire online due to the participation of Mark Zuckerberg (CEO of Facebook who challenged Bill Gates), Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft), Tim Cook (CEO of Apple), Sergey Brin and Larry Page (Google co-founders), Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon), famous footballers like Ronaldo or the German national team players who just won the World Cup also joined the challenge.

In just 2 weeks, the ice water challenge raised $1.35 million for ALS research fund. As of today, August 20, there are reports that the fund has raised up to $20 million thanks to the global spread effect of the Ice Bucket Challenge.

What's interesting is that Bill Gates not only accepted the ice water challenge but also filmed a clip in response to Mark Zuckerberg's challenge. In the clip, the Microsoft founder not only introduced the Surface tablet but also personally designed a humorous contraption just to... pour water.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush gracefully poured ice water over his head to support the ALS awareness campaign, playfully challenging former President Bill Clinton to do the same.

Ice Bucket Challenge in Vietnam

In Vietnam, this trend has also made its way, attracting not only entertainment celebrities but also many young participants.

The 'Ice Bucket Challenge' carries profound meanings, yet for some, this idea seems quite... frivolous. The 'No Ice Bucket Challenge' project aims to discourage people from pouring cold water over their heads and instead urges them to donate or engage in other meaningful activities for the ALS fund.

Most recently, on August 15, Corey Griffin, aged 28, leaped from a skyscraper into a river to mark reaching the $100,000 milestone for the fund. Unfortunately, he drowned, leaving behind not only sorrow for his family but also for his close friend, baseball player Pete Frates.

In another effort to combat water wastage, the California city authorities have decided that starting from August 15, anyone participating in the ice water challenge and found wasting water will be fined $500.

Theo's Two Families

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour