One person, one bucket of ice water and a hope to raise awareness has resulted in a month-long viral explosion of ALS Ice Bucket Challenges dominating every form of media across the country.

Whether it’s your favorite celebrity, friends and family, or even the President of Iona College taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, it has raised awareness that even the ALS Association could not have anticipated. In the early stages of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, before it was all over everyone’s Facebook newsfeeds, junior Meghan Cramsie and her sister sophomore Kara Cramsie, helped kickstart the campaign at the college after their family was nominated by their cousin and Iona alumni, Patrick Quinn.

Quinn was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in March of last year. The disease is most prevalent in people between the ages of 40-70, however Quinn was diagnosed at only 30 years old.

“I think in Pat’s case it was a lot less about him and more about the future, about helping stop the disease before more get affected,” said Kara Cramsie.

During their ALS Ice Bucket Challenges, the Cramsie sisters helped by nominating several students at Iona, which lit a small spark under the challenge’s initial start.  

“People may not know that Pat started the challenge but I think we should be proud that our alum is promoting ALS research,” said Meghan Cramsie. “Before the ice bucket challenges many people didn’t know what ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease is and it was one of us who started the nationwide advocacy going.”

With a disease that is incurable at the moment and has had limited research funds, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has not only increased overall awareness, but also donations. According to the ALS Association, $2.8 million was donated in the same time period last year compared to the $100.9 million donated this year.

“I know that the Ice Bucket Challenge has brought so much awareness which is more than anyone could’ve ever hoped for,” said Kara Cramsie. “People are actually showing that they care. Also the money that has come in is so incredible and really gives the doctors the funds to look more deeply into the disease and find out why people get it, how to slow it et cetera.”

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has made a clear impact on the organization and about people learning about ALS itself. To learn more about the disease and how to donate, visit ALSA.org.

“We’re all hoping that the money will be able to speed up the medicine trials they have going on right now for those currently living with ALS,” said Kara Cramsie. “Honestly, because it was so unknown there is so much to be done with the new funds and I really hope that they discover something to help out Pat and those who are also affected right now.”