Watch CBS News

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge To Become Annual Tradition

CHICAGO (CBS) -- It hit the world like a bucket of cold water in the face last year, and it's back.

Countless people dumped ice water over their heads last summer, as part of the ALS The Ice Bucket Challenge, a viral effort to promote awareness of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

ALS groups like the Les Turner ALS Foundation now claim the challenge as their own, and plan to do it as a fundraiser every August.

"We're trying to whip up the same level of energy. We felt like last year really changed the game for ALS," said Les Turner ALS Foundation spokeswoman Jordyn Landberg.

Kristen Vake took the challenge last year, and would do so again this year, but she's not sure if the Ice Bucket Challenge hasn't been overplayed.

"It might be yesterday's news," she said. "If it were to go through that again, I don't know if it would be as big. I hope it would be."

Podcast

Landberg acknowledged they might not repeat last year's viral success, but said the ALS cause can still raise awareness and money.

"No, we're not going to be able to recreate what happened last year, because of how organic it was, and grassroots it was, but I think that we can do something very similar," she said.

The Les Turner ALS Foundation raised $1 million as a result of last year's six-week Challenge.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.