InstagramAdmit it. There was a point back in 2014 when you wondered if the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge would actually make a difference, or if it was just one big Internet fad. Believe it or not, if you dumped a bucket of ice on your head a few years back, it did a ton of good.
The ALS Association's website notes, thanks to the challenge, $115 million was raised (in only eight weeks!) for ALS. All that ice allowed the ALS Association to fund over 150 ongoing research projects and dedicate $77 million to continuing the quest for treatments, and, of course, a cure. 15,000 patients per year have been given assistance from their local ALS division as well. That's a lot of ice cubes.
Oh, did we mention not one, but two new drugs are currently being clinically tested? Yep, thanks, Internet! One of the coolest differences the challenge made? In the past two years, three new genes have been uncovered, which the site notes will help "identify new therapies" for ALS. Pretty unreal accomplishments if you ask us! Not to mention, all of the celebrities who participated made for some pretty hilarious videos. The moral of the story is, you never know when a crazy Internet fad will make a real difference.
Kris Jenner helps the cast of E! News take the Ice Bucket Challenge!