The Ice Bucket Challenge\u2014where people would dump cold ice on their heads for charity\u2014has quietly existed for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former baseball player Pete Frates<\/a> wanted to take on the challenge, but couldn’t because he suffers from ALS. So, he asked a friend to do it on his behalf to help raise donations & awareness for his cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That friend challenged other friends to do the same, and before long, this became a viral internet sensation. In August alone, there have been over 8.6 Million mentions of the Ice Bucket Challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Things really started to take off on Aug. 13, when Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella<\/a> filmed himself taking on the challenge\u2014and before long, the tech community at large embraced the trend. Mark Zuckerberg<\/a> joined the cause on Aug. 15, prompting another spike in buzz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volume really took off on Aug. 17, when Justin Bieber posted his video, and mentions peaked on Aug. 18 as more and more celebrities participated. Celebrities like Drake and Lady Gaga, athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo, and tech industry leaders, like Tim Cook, all rallied around the cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As more #IceBucketChallenge videos popped up, new participants strived to stand out with their own unique spin. Charlie Sheen’s twist (dumping a bucket not of ice, but of the money he’ll donate, over his head) was a huge hit, garnering the third most mentions in August, despite happening late in the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n