According to CNN, the $115 million raised for ALS awareness and research through the ice bucket challenge helped scientists identify one gene that’s responsible for the disease – something that could lead to treatment down the line.
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The challenge became a viral sensation in 2014 and raised more than $100 million for the association.
When the Association received its massive influx of Ice Bucket Challenge donations, $1 million of the funding was given to Project MinE, a global genome sequencing project dedicated to researching ALS.
The gene NEK1 is the most commonly found in relation with the disease and researchers can now use this new information to formulate new gene therapies in order to help people suffering from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
“It certainly helped us and so we’re trying to keep up the momentum”, said Gordon, who helped start a new campaign called “Every Drop Adds Up” so that people who remember the Ice Bucket Challenge every August can continue to donate.
The disease causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to gradually deteriorate.
That investment is already paying big dividends, says ALS association CT chapter Executive Director and ice bucket challenger, Mike Burke. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“The sophisticated gene analysis that led to this finding was only possible because of the large number of ALS samples available”, said Dr. Lucie Bruijin, Chief Scientist at the ALS Association.
It’s a challenge that’s been seen and felt all over the world. His work in promoting technology to aid ALS victims has received national recognition, and past year President Barack Obama signed the Gleason Act, making technology available through Medicare and Medicaid.
“Before this I told people about ALS research and they looked at me like I was odd, they didn’t know what I was talking about”.
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Maybe we should bring back the ice bucket challenge for humanity and for old time’s sake.
