It’s all for a good cause
Dear Sir,
The letter, “A waste of resources” by a “concerned resident” (Gulf Times, September 1) shows the resident has no concern for the sick in society.
The “concerned resident” seems to be convinced that the “Ice Bucket Challenge”, being held at some hotels in Doha, “a waste of time and resources”. He/she thinks that as water is a “scarce” commodity in Qatar, it is not correct to waste it like this.
But does the letter writer know that the “challenge” has already generated $100mn in donations in just a few days all over the world?
It’s all for the cause of funding research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative illness commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
In today’s world of social media fundraising, the ALS Association has obviously hit the jackpot and created a model that charity groups everywhere are anxious to exploit.
Some of the richest and most powerful figures in business, politics, media and sports - from Mark Zuckerberg to George W Bush to Oprah Winfrey - have happily shared videos that show buckets of cold water being dumped on their heads.
The success of the challenge is a testament to the power of social media to raise awareness over health conditions and funds for vital research.
And it has brought so much attention and awareness to ALS
It is true that there are worries that the “challenge” is a fad that will detract attention and money from other worthy causes.
But the campaign’s pluses outweigh the minuses. Even if many people have jumped on the icy bandwagon simply because it is the “in” thing, the campaign brought news about ALS to the masses.
The publicity for ALS also brings attention to other more well-known neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Research into ALS may enhance understanding of those conditions, as well.
The ALS Association will now need to consider carefully how it manages this windfall.
Rajesh, [email protected]
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