Singapore's 987fm radio deejays doing the ice bucket challenge. (YouTube screengrab)
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has arrived in Singapore!If you're wondering why local celebrities are posting videos pouring buckets of ice on themselves, it is all due to a former athlete wanting to raise awareness for a cause. What is it? The Ice Bucket Challenge, which has gone viral in the US, was initiated on 29 July by a former baseball team captain known as Pete Frates. The 29-year-old Boston native launched the challenge after he was diagnosed with ALS - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - in a bid to spread awareness about the disease and challenge people to action. ALS, also known as the Lou Gehrig's disease, is a disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It leads to muscle atrophy, difficulty in speaking and, eventually, complete paralysis. The challenge requires participants to record themselves pouring a bucket of ice over their heads, then nominate three others to do the same. So far, several professional US athletes, global corporations and celebrities, including Justin Timberlake, Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel and Tom Hiddleston have responded to the icy dare. The ALS association in the US has received donations amounting to S$1.4 million as of 12 August as a result of this viral social campaign. The Ice Bucket Challenge in SingaporeALS is better known as Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in Singapore and celebrities who have done the challenge here are hoping to create awareness on the illness and generate donations for the MND support group.Singapore celebrities George Young, Rebecca Lim, Jade Seah and popular 987FM radio deejays have already posted videos on social media of themselves being doused by buckets of ice to raise awareness about the disease. Will this trend be effective in pursuing the cause in Singapore? While it is too soon to tell, the trend is shaping up to become the next popular social movement as videos become increasingly popular among netizens here. A video by radio personality Dee Kosh has garnered close to 7,000 views in over two days while the one posted by 987FM deejays quickly garnered over 16,000 views. Both were posted on 18 August. Who will be next?Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is among the popular figures who have been nominated for the challenge. Other personalities include radio deejay Rosalyn Lee and Fly Entertainment's Irene Ang.
We're waiting to see how they respond. In the meantime, will you take the challenge?
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