Leveraging Social Media to Support Your Cause

In the past few weeks, you may have come across videos of your friends dumping a bucket of ice cold water on their heads. This viral campaign isn’t just about how to stay cool during these hot summer months. It’s about raising awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Oh, and yes, it’s working!

In the past few weeks, you may have come across videos of your friends dumping a bucket of ice cold water on their heads. This viral campaign isn’t just about how to stay cool during these hot summer months. It’s about raising awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Oh, and yes, it’s working!

Actress Kate Mara taking part in the Ice Bucket challenge.

The challenge involves people getting doused with buckets of ice water on video, posting that video to social media, then nominating others to do the same, all in an effort to raise ALS awareness. Those who refuse to take the challenge are asked to make a donation to the ALS charity of their choice.

While the challenge is getting a lot of buzz on social media, with many participants using hashtags such as #icebucketchallenge and #StrikeoutALS, it’s also helping to raise much needed funds. According to the ALS Association, there has been a 10 percent increase in monetary donations compared to the same time period last year.

This isn’t the first time social media has helped create awareness on a specific disease.  Back in 2012, a Canadian woman was able to get a lung transplant with the help of Twitter and pop icon Justin Bieber.

Social media has can be a powerful awareness and donation tool. All you need is an idea and a strategy and the “sky is the limit,” on the buzz you can generate.