The ice bucket challenge has been almost impossible to miss. Millions of people throwing buckets of water over their head and donating money to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MDNA) including the likes of Victoria & David Beckham, Justin Bieber & Hugh Jackman.
The viral craze began in the Unites States in the summer of 2014 by former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates, whose career was cut short by ALS. It involves a person having a bucket of icy water poured over their head and then nominating someone else to follow suit or donate or both! ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis which is the most common type of motor neurone disease. In the UK we use the term MND and in the USA they use ALS. its clear the craze will make a huge difference to the charity’s ability to fund research and provide care to the more than 6,000 sufferers in the UK.
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. There is no cure but the MND Assocation funds and promotes research that leads to new understanding and treatments, and brings us closer to a cure for MND. They also provide services to support people living with, or affected by, MND. Pre-ice bucket, the MND Association would receive on average £200,000 a week in donations. From 22 to 29 August, it received £2.7m.
The MND Association is the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland focused on MND care, research and campaigning .You can donate by texting ICED55 £5 (or any other amount) to 70070 (only available in the UK), visiting their Just Giving page or by calling 01604 611 860 referencing the 'Ice Bucket Challenge'.
Dancewear Central would like to thank ISTD for nominating us to do the Ice Bucket Challenge. Well done to our volunteers Linzi, Laura and Jerusha from Dancewear Central who braved the bucket! We now nominate Dance Proms, Capezio Europe and Matt Flint. Good Luck!