The viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge came my way. Miranda from Plus Sized Mama and author of Lemonade and Holy Stuff challenged me. I get what the intention was in the beginning. Well, kind of. Bring awareness to the horrid disease that takes the joy of living from so many people. I did a bit of research online so that I could be more educated on the disease. What has gotten lost in the challenge, however, is the education and the actual donations to a reputable charity that is in dire need of funding to continue research and help with finding ways to fight this disease. Instead of making donations I suspect that people are accepting the challenge, not donating the $10 that goes with doing the challenge and not really understanding the whole reason behind the challenge. While the donation amount for ALS has risen dramatically as evidenced in news reports I suspect it is a fraction of what it could be.
So I am going to do it My Way. Which means I will NOT be dumping a pail, bucket, galvanized tub of ice water on my head. Instead, after much research and advice gained through Charity Navigator —I will be making not one but two donations. One to the ALS Association and one to Samaritan’s Purse for their water in the Sudan Project which is one that I donated to before as a Comments for a Cause recipient in honor of my dear friend, Betty Barnhardt. As I write this post Betty is in her final days on this earth and it seems even more poignant that I honor her by donating to a water project instead of dumping water on my head.
The mission of the ALS Association is:
OUR MISSION: Leading the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.
Samaritan’s Purse offers a wonderful short video that will explain their mission:
To add to my doing it My Way I will also sit down and have a lovely glass of iced tea—-made with of all things—-WATER! Ice water at that! Cheers!!!
<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/104011888″>ice Water Challenge</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user7754168″>Beth Ann Chiles</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>
It's Just Life 
Bravo! I like your take on it!
Thanks!!! I hated to do two posts in a day but decided to just do it. 🙂
Well done, Beth Ann! Both are wonderful causes.
Thanks, Jackie!!!!
I like your way Beth Ann and I suspect you are right about the donations being forgotten for ALS.
I hope not! I hope that people “get” it!
Very clever way to get out of it! 😉 I asked a challenger if I could dump the ice on my Hubby instead. She said yes but that she wanted video. I told her I wouldn’t live long enough to video tape it if I tried
Yea, that is what would happen here, too. Chris would definitely not appreciate it!
Darn eh?! lol
Brilliant!
Well I am not sure about brilliant….but I gave it a go!
Great video. I like that you made the challenge your own.
Thanks, Jeni. I just did it my way. 🙂
I couldn’t agree with you more…sounds like a great plan!
Thanks for the encouragement! I am all about raising awareness for causes, obviously!
I agree that your way is fine. I would rather do it my way also. I learned a lot about it from the video. Thanks for sharing it.
My way or the highway! 🙂
Thanks for sharing the video so we know all they are doing to help who need help.
You are very welcome!
I am a big supporter of Samaritan’s Purse. They do so many great things around the world.
I think it’s great that everyone answer’s the challenge in their own way: just as long as we are spreading the word and donating to these great causes!
I had hot tea after I dumped the ice water on my head though. LOL
Haha, I totally missed this when I challenged you 🙂
I think it’s awesome although it would be fun too see you dump the bucket 😉
I wondered if you had seen this or not when you challenged me! I think that this will do it for me—-no water dumped on my head. I can not be trusted. 🙂
Thanks for your generosity, Beth Ann.
You are very welcome. I think this was the right option for me. 😉
I think I must have watched this on FB? Because I have seen this already, but no Like here or comment.
I bet you did see it on FB—I post all my blog posts there so I bet that you saw it there.
The ice bucket challenge was certainly unique. Actually started by an individual with ALS and not by a big time marketing and public relations agency. Probably generated more public awareness than any charity has ever garnered for themselves. Believe it did bring donors in who normally never make a donation to a charity. More than likely this culmulative effect will be more of a one time only fad rather than a trend setter.