Ice Bucket Challenge EUR 1.6 million for ALS patients

„Ice Bucket Challenge“: 1.6 million euros for ALS ambulance

23/12/2014

The internet action „Ice Bucket Challenge“, in which the participants shower for a video with ice water and promote the fight against a rare nerve disease, the Berlin ALS ambulance has brought 1.6 million euros donations. Experts criticize that donations are also used for unnecessary animal experiments.

Rare untreatable nerve disease
In recent months, the Internet campaign „Ice Bucket Challenge“ caused a great stir. The participants showered for a video with ice water and campaign for the fight against the rare nervous disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The disease, which causes severe muscle twitching and severe swallowing problems, among others, leads to damage to nerve cells. It is not curable and causes death in about half of the patients within the first three years. Affected individuals only live with the disease for more than a decade in exceptional cases. The therapy focuses mainly on the relief of symptoms and psychological care.

Hype in the social media
Many people were no longer aware of the hype in the social media that the action was also about collecting money. The Berlin ALS ambulance at the Charité Clinic has now announced that the „Ice Bucket Challenge“ donated around 1.6 million euros. As the head Professor Thomas Meyer told the German press agency, the money should benefit the ambulance and the research. He added: „The big onslaught is over now, but the high sum has secured our work on a somewhat longer period.“

Number of donors has increased enormously
According to Meyer, there are between 7,000 and 8,000 people affected nationwide. In Berlin, about 800 patients are currently being treated with ALS. Through the Internet campaign, which included celebrities such as Bill Gates or Helene Fischer, came together at the American ALS Association 115 million dollars (92 million euros). „It was a straw fire, but extremely positive“, so meyer. Due to the ice water action, the number of donors increased to 34,000, previously had been only 100, but often gave larger sums.

Donations for cruel and nonsensical animal experiments
On the criticism that the whole thing was just a joke, Meyer responded: „The combination of fun with a serious concern in itself, I continue to find good and successful.“ However, it bothers him when the ice water showers ALS is mentioned with a word. However, this was not the only criticism that was practiced at the action. So had the union „Doctors against animal testing“ a few months ago called that the „Ice Bucket Challenge“-Nominees should not donate to the ALS Association. This is because it would also finance cruel and pointless animal experiments that do not benefit ALS research. (Ad)