The #IceBucketChallenge, probably the biggest viral campaign ever, has taken off with everyone from Bill Gates and Lady Gaga to Justin Bieber, Greg Norman and even former US president George W. Bush taking part. It’s more a case of who hasn’t got iced, at this point. President Obama was challenged by a number of people, but declined and opted to make a donation instead.
The idea is to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and encourage donations to research. According to Wikipedia, the challenge involved daring nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads and challenging others to do the same. Nominated people have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation. According to the ALS Association in the US, $88.5 million has been raised so far.
“We are simply awe-struck at the incredible generosity that has poured forth to help fight this disease,” said Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of The ALS Association. “Words cannot express how grateful we are to the nearly two million people who have donated and even more than that who have likely taken the challenge. You have all made an incredible effort in the fight against this disease.”
Of course, in South Africa Springbok rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen suffers from ALS, which is often referred to as ‘Motor Neurone Disease’ (MND). Van der Westhuizen was quick to take up the challenge, and nominated the Springboks, All Blacks and Australian rugby teams, as well as Jacaranda FM’s Kevin Fine to follow suit. Fine and the Boks did the challenge, and also donated money to Van der Westhuizen’s J9 Foundation.
Who in South Africa’s media companies have taken up the challenge? Ken Varejes, CEO of Primedia Unlimited, has completed the #IceBucketChallenge and donated $100 to the ALS Foundation. He’s nominated Josh Dovey, Reg Lascaris and Chris Botha to do it next.
eNews Channel Africa took up the challenge. eNCA anchor Yusuf Omar reported on the story, and managed to persuade managing director of the channel, Patrick Conroy, to join him. You can see the report here.
The Media Online welcomes clips of media taking up the challenge, and will post and update the story when we receive new material. Send the link to editor@themediaonline.co.za
Update: OMD’s Gordon Patterson is well and truly iced!
Patterson has nominated the SABC’s Kevin Green. Will he be up for it?
Update: OMD’s Josh Dovey accepted Vareje’s challenge, and has laid down a few more for his media colleagues. Who will be next?
Josh Dovey of OMD takes his punishment!
Joost van der Westhuizen gets iced, and challenges the Boks, All Blacks and Australian rugby team to get wet. Oh, and Jacaranda FM’s Kevin Fine too.
Ken Varejes takes the plunge, challenges Chris Botha, Reg Lascaris and Josh Dovey. Who’s next guys?
The Springboks give coach Heineke Meyer an icy shower and challenge springbok sevens and all rugby unions to take up the challenge. They also donated R15 000 to the J9 Foundation.
Jacaranda FM’s Kevin Fine gets chilled, and nominates Kagiso Media in Cape Town and Durban to do it too.
IMAGE: Jacaranda FM
