ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralysed.

- Adapted from ALS Association 

Since 29 July 2014, the ALS Association launched the Ice Bucket Challenge to increase awareness of ALS in the U.S. Everyone from Ethel Kennedy to Justin Timberlake has poured a bucket of ice water over his or her head and challenged others do the same or make a donation to fight ALS within twenty-four hours.

A father of a good friend of mine is fighting with this disease. It has been a long and challenging journey since her dad is diagnosed with this disease. I am very proud of you, my friend. Your dedication in taking care of your dad is admirable. There is seriously nothing very much that I can do to help, hope that this post will help to increase awareness of ALS in the community.

Written by: Dr Debbie Hong