WOODBURY — Buckets of ice pouring over your head send a numbing feeling rushing through your body — and of course, your friend standing right in front of you filming the whole thing.
Ice bucket challenges have swept the internet and social media this spring, attempting to raise awareness for a cause.
These challenges began back in 2014, when a few people wanted to raise awareness for ALS. Millions of people across the world participated in this challenge and posted their video on social media with the hashtag “#ALSIceBucketChallenge.” Soon enough, the ALS Association collected over $115 million.
Eleven years later, this challenge reappeared to advocate for mental health. This time it was started by the students at the University of South Carolina, who were a part of Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND). This time, the hashtag was “#SpeakYourMIND” and they raised $400,000 on campus.
For teens, these challenges may just be a fun trend on social media, but for those suffering with these issues, every ice bucket makes a difference.
