The viral 'Ice Bucket Challenge' is back over a decade later – but with a new mission

USA Today

23-04-2025

The viral 'Ice Bucket Challenge' is back over a decade later – but with a new mission The #SpeakYourMIND Ice Bucket Challenge, which has raised nearly $300,000 in support of mental health, is receiving mixed reactions as the trend originally brought awareness to ALS.
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Good Day's 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge
Ten years ago, Lauren Przybyl took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in her backyard. She then challenged Chip Waggoner to do it live on Good Day.
Fox - 4 News
I still remember the cool rush of ice water splashing over my head in summer 2014, my body bracing itself for inevitable shivers. The original 'ALS Ice Bucket Challenge' was inescapable — if you weren't nominated, you certainly saw videos plastered all over your Instagram (or even Vine) feed. But the trend wasn't just for fun. The challenge was launched by three young men living with ALS: Anthony Senerchia, Pete Frates and Pat Quinn.
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing progressive loss of muscle control.
Over 17 million people dumped ice water over their heads, raising over $115 million for The ALS Association.
Over a decade later, those of us who remember the original challenge are now getting deja vu. But the newest ice bucket challenge isn't to bring awareness to ALS; rather, participants are raising awareness and funds for mental health causes.
The #SpeakYourMIND ice bucket challenge was created by students at the University of South Carolina's 'Mental Illness Needs Discussion' club, which first posted about the challenge on March 31.
The organization requested participants donate to Active Minds, a national youth mental health nonprofit with chapters across college campuses. Nearly $300,000 has been raised as of April 23.
The challenge is simple:
Grab a bucket, some ice, and a friend.
Record your challenge and tag three others to take it next.
Post on social media and include the donation link to support the work of Active Minds.
Wade Jefferson, Sophomore at USC and Founder of the MIND club, said in a statement the challenge was 'inspired by the original ALS and how powerful that movement was,' but its success has not come without backlash.
One TikTok user posted that it 'overshadows the ALS ice bucket challenge," which was designed to "raise awareness because nobody knows what ALS is."
Even The ALS Association weighed in. 'The Ice Bucket Challenge started with ALS. We remember who we are – and won't stop until there's a cure,' they said in an Instagram post on April 22, featuring clips of celebrities like Taylor Swift taking part in the OG challenge.
'They're two completely different things'
On TikTok, users were divided. Some argued that the 'point of it being an ice bucket challenge for ALS was to represent the physical pain of ALS,' and this new trend 'confused' them.
'With the ALS one it is supposed to give that almost frozen/paralyzed feeling,' one user commented.
Others, however, noted that the new trend was still bringing awareness to ALS by sparking nostalgia for the original challenge.
'As someone from South Carolina, USC Speak Your Mind is for someone who took their life at USC. They're two completely different things and both deserve recognition,' another user wrote.
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge turns 10: Much achieved, but much work remains
Peyton Manning, James Charles take part in #SpeakYourMIND ice bucket challenge
Just like the original ice bucket challenge, influencers and celebrities are getting in on it.
James Charles, who joked that he 'couldn't believe we were back in 2014,' brought attention to both ALS and mental health. His post has received nearly 30M views on TikTok.
'Watching it take off – seeing people we admire, like Peyton Manning, join in – has been surreal. We're proud, grateful, and just excited to see how far it's gone and continue to go,' Jefferson said.
Active Minds is encouraging people to participate and share educational resources – including self-care tools, ways to offer help and information on accessing crisis support – to continue working towards a 'new era of mental health.'
'This campaign is everything Active Minds stands for—bold, mission-driven, and youth-led,' Alison Malmon, Founder & Executive Director of Active Minds, said in a statement. 'To see youth and young adults take an iconic viral moment and breathe new life into it for mental health advocacy is incredibly powerful.'