The USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge is making waves 10 years after the original ice bucket challenge went viral. At first glance, the challenge may just seem like another trend on social media, but it holds a much deeper meaning. In 2014, the challenge started with just one person, who wanted to raise awareness of ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease. After spreading through their town, the challenge quickly went viral and started spreading across the globe. High profile celebrities and athletes took part in it, and it raised around $220 million worldwide. Now, a new ice bucket challenge is spreading across the U.S., and people are wondering what this one is about.
So what is this trend that has been taking over the internet? The USC Ice Bucket Challenge is a social media challenge where people get ice water dumped on their head, post the videos, and nominate other people to participate. The new challenge was started at the University of South Carolina by the MIND club, founded by Wade Jefferson, a student there. The MIND club is a student run organization that is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health. Wade created the challenge in response to the deaths of two friends by suicide. The goal was to break the stigma surrounding mental health, advocate for suicide prevention, and let people know that they are not alone in their struggles. They managed to exceed their goal of raising $50,000, instead reaching over $150,000 from donations. The funds were used to support Active Minds, a non-profit organization. Active Minds was founded by Alison Malmon in 2003, after her older brother died of suicide in 2000.
The new ice bucket challenge has sparked controversy because some ALS supporters believe the challenge has taken away from the original mission of raising awareness for ALS. Wade Jefferson credited the original challenge in a press release, stating that it “started as a random idea, inspired by the original ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and how powerful that movement was.” While there are some concerns about the new challenge, it is important to note that the ALS Association has provided their support for the USC Speak Your Mind Challenge. Besides it being an exciting new trend, the challenge highlights the struggles of ALS and mental health, making it an important and powerful movement.
