ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

I’m sure you’ve heard of it. In fact, there’s a good chance that you’ve even participated in it. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is the fastest growing fundraiser to ever sweep social media, and in just one month it has raised over $100 million dollars. ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, affects the nerve cells surrounding the spinal cord and brain causing a person to loose muscle control and eventually become trapped inside his or her own body. With a life expectancy of only 2-5 years, the prognosis is grim, which is why the ALS Association is in desperate need for funding to research its origins, treatments, and hopefully a cure. The Ice Bucket Challenge has done just that by getting people around the entire globe involved with raising awareness and funds. The rules are simple: once you’re nominated, you have 24 hours to post a video of you dumping a bucket of ice water on your head, donate, and nominate three other people. It hasn’t been all positivity surrounding the Ice Bucket Challenge though. Issues regarding the morality and ethics of ALS research has been circulating the web, and like anything else in life, one must research and personally discover what they feel is right and wrong.

             Along with the overload of Ice Bucket Challenge videos on your Facebook feed, you might have noticed an article arguing against The Challenge. The article brings up some valid questions about ALS research, specifically research done with stem cells. Over the course of its history, the ALS Association has been involved in one stem cell research project. It is not specified whether embryonic stem cells or stem cells collected via cord blood had been used. Embryonic stem cells use fertilized embryos that are artificially created and then destroyed for the purpose of research. If your definition of the beginning of life is when the egg is fertilized, then this is considered murder. Cord blood, however, is extracted from a newborn’s umbilical cord soon after birth and stored until use. The stem cells from cord blood do not destroy any form of life, have the same potency as embryonic stem cells, and are therefore ethical for pro-lifers.

            Often without supplementary research, Christians and other pro-lifers declared the Ice Bucket Challenge as wrong and sinful simply after reading this one-sided article, boycotting any form of support. I believe that this action painted Christians as negative and judgmental people who disapprove of anything “not of this world”. The fact is that as a people, we had a wonderful opportunity to come together for a cause in need of support. It’s not very often that a positive movement sweeps our culture like this and we should be thanking God for the outpour of love and support that virtually the entire globe has shown for ALS patients. 

As with anything in life, the most important thing is to not make assumptions before doing personal research. Don’t just read one article and form an opinion, but truly research, pray, and form individual thoughts to discern what is right and wrong. When you donate, you can specify where you’d like your money to go. You can still support a great cause without condoning the possible use of embryonic stem cell research.

Here's my Ice Bucket Challenge, I've donated (without sacrificing my beliefs) and I now challenge all of you to help raise awareness for ALS! 

Sources: NY Daily News//Forbes//ABC News 7