Take part in Challenge, Relay to make our world healthier

Opinion: November 19, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge swept the nation this past summer. Recent reports state that the ALS Association has received over $115 million since July 29, 2014, nearly a 3,500 percent increase from their statistics from this time last year. No one can escape logging into any social media platform without seeing a new video posted; however, many individuals seem to be missing the point.

ALS is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease in which motor neurons die and the individual loses the ability to control his or her muscles.

According to the ALS Association, 5,600 people are diagnosed each year in the United States; furthermore, there are approximately 30,000 Americans with ALS at any given time.

The point of the Ice Bucket Challenge is to either douse yourself with a bucket of ice water and donate $10 or decline and donate $100. However, it seems that many people are skipping the entire donation process. Over 75 percent of funds donated to the ALS Association funds programs and research to find a way to cure this terrible disease. Ten dollars may not seem like a significant amount of money; however, there have been over 3 million new donors to the association this year alone. The donations add up quickly.

However, if you do not want to donate directly to the association, find out what you can do locally. There are residents of the Mahoning Valley living with ALS; do something to help them out directly.

If, however, ALS isn’t your cause, remember that there are multiple worthy causes out there. We all have a responsibility to do what we can, even if it is just participating in a Relay for Life or Heart Walk. Your participation could lead to someone else’s donation, which could ultimately lead to a healthier society.

Patrick Gessler , Youngstown