It's a chilly challenge that's hot around the world. Videos of the Ice Bucket Challenge are going viral to raise awareness about ALS.
Manitoba's ALS Society was challenged by the ALS Society of Quebec. Now, the group is joining the ranks of people like Justin Timberlake and Sydney Crosby, soaking themselves to raise awareness.
But the ALS Society of Manitoba took part in the campaign on Friday to prove that it's more than just a fad.
Diana Rasmussen, executive director of the ALS Society of Manitoba, said ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neuromuscular disease, "where the muscles disintegrate and they don't come back."
ALS has no cure.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is a campaign started online by Pete Frates, a 29-year-old former college baseball star diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's two years ago. It's prompted others with ALS to participate.
Bob Gotterfried lives with ALS. As soon as he heard about the chance, he volunteered to take part in the Ice Bucket Challenge to give back to the ALS Society of Manitoba.
"They've done so much for me that I think anything I can do to help the society, I just thought, great, I’ll do anything,” he said.
The campaign has raised close to $1.5 million in the U.S. Here at home, Diana Rasmussen said the momentum has been slower.
"Donations are coming in extremely slowly, but they are coming in,” she said.
Some of the Winnipeg Jets not only participated, but also donated.
At the event, Diana Rasmussen from the ALS Society of Manitoba, challenged Wade Miller of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to take part in the challenge at next week's game.
Nominees have 24 hours to dump a pail of ice water on themselves, or donate money.
