Take the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' for ALS Awareness

A charity event called the "Ice Bucket challenge" has gone viral in support of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

This health issue affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in involuntary muscle movements that progressively worsen with time.

Researchers first discovered signs of this health issue in Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig in the early 20th century. An American baseball player in the 1920s, extensive testing showed that Gehrig had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Since these findings, many other note-worthy individuals who have made their mark on history have also dealt with this health issue. Stephen Hawking, who's conducted extensive laws on the universe, including Einstein's General Theory of Relativity and the "Big Bang" was diagnosed at a very young age with the degenerative health problem. However, at 72, he continues to positively deal with any difficulties surrounding his illness.

Those participating in this fundraising phenomenon only need a bucket of ice that they quickly dump over their head, record and then post a video of via social media.  

Participants are also encouraged to get friends and family involved in the hopes of raising awareness particularly for ALS, but other health issues, as well.

Those who decide to skip out on the ‘cool' event are asked to donate to a charity. Many throughout the country are in need of critical treatments that could save their lives with the help of charity donations.

So far, tons of individuals are getting in on the fun, including famous athletes and entertainers throughout the country such as Martha Stewart, Greg Norman and even Matt Lauer, to name a few.