The 'Ice Bucket Challenge' is back, but with a new cause

ITV News

25-04-2025

The 'Ice Bucket Challenge' is back - but this time the internet craze is being used to raise funds for mental health awareness.
The challenge - where people post video of themselves throwing buckets of iced water over their heads - first appeared in 2014, to raise money for the progressive neurodegenerative disease ALS.
Now, a student-run initiative called MIND (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) in the United States, has resurrected the trend.
The group launched the 'Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge' to raise money for Active Minds, a non-profit organisation dedicated to changing the stigma around mental health in young people and adults.
MIND, which launched the campaign via a social media post in March, originally hoped to raise a few hundred US dollars. However, after the fund reached more than $175,000, Active Minds set a new target of $250,000.
Now, the challenge has spread beyond America, with UK social media users also taking part.
In a statement posted on Active Mind's website, Wade Jefferson, a sophomore and founder said the campaign had been 'surreal.'
He wrote: 'We're proud, grateful and just excited to see how far it's gone and (will) continue to go.'
The challenge has spread across the water, with UK social media users also taking part
Back in 2014 hundreds of celebrities including A-listers, Taylor Swift, Victoria Beckham, Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey took on the challenge.
The campaign was a staggering success, raising $115 million in donations in just six weeks, and $220 million overall.
Victoria Beckhams 'Ice Bucket Challenge' 2014
This time round celebrities including NFL players, Peyton Manning, Emmanuel Sanders and Jordon Norwood have taken part. Internet stars James Charles and Haley Kalil have also got involved.
The ALS Association praised MIND's efforts, publishing a statement on their website saying they were "thrilled to see the spirit of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge live on in new forms of activism."