Thailand's Ice Bucket Challenge

In the Netherlands you have been confronted with it on a daily basis for some time now; the media hype about the unique action to generate interest in the rare disease ALS. Of course, the ultimate goal is to raise money for the necessary research into the cause and possible cures for this disease, which in the Netherlands alone suffers from about 1500 people.

ALS

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a very serious disease of the nervous system that causes the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain to slowly die. The failure of the respiratory muscles is usually the cause of the death of someone with ALS. The average life expectancy of an ALS patient is only three to five years. The exact cause of ALS is not yet known. Nor are there any drugs that can stop or cure the disease.

The Ice Bucket Challenge

It starts somewhere in Boston where a Pete Frates was diagnosed with ALS. To create awareness for this disease, he decided to pour a bucket of ice water over himself and challenge his old baseball teammates from the Boston College Baseball team to do the same. After throwing a bucket of ice-cold water, the aim is to nominate other people who must also undergo this challenge. Anyone who refuses to participate is obliged to donate 75 euros to the ALS foundation. Every challenge is shared on social media. There are now almost 2,5 million videos on Facebook of people throwing a bucket of ice water over them.

Other participants

The 2,5 million participants include Bill Gates (Microsoft), Oprah Winfrey and Charlie Sheen. Celebrities also participate in the Netherlands, such as Jan de Hoop (newsreader), Giel Beelen (radio presenter) and the selection of Ajax. King Willem Alexander was also nominated, but he does not accept the challenge. He is not the only one in this, because King Philippe of Belgium and US President Obama do not participate in the challenge either. The campaign is financially a great success in America, it has already yielded more than 15 million dollars and the Dutch foundation also reports that the donations are 2 to 3 times as many as in other years.

The "Ice Bucket Challenge" in Thailand

The craze has now spread all over the world and Thailand is not left out. It started a while ago on a television talk show after which numerous Thai celebrities accepted the challenge of getting a bucket of ice water over them.

When it comes to throwing water, Thailand is the right place, after all, more than enough experience with the annual Songkran Festival. The (provisional) highlight is that this week hundreds of people gathered at Central World who all had buckets of ice water poured over them. This challenge was organized by the Prasat Neurological Institute and the Thai Red Cross, again to raise money for the ALS fund. The action has also yielded more than 2 million baht in Thailand.

Thai celebrities

Several Thai “celebrities” have already accepted the challenge including Subot Leekpai, host of a popular TV show, “Woody” Wuthitithorn Milintachina, a TV anchorman, Abhisit, former Prime Minister of Thailand, Tanya Tanyares Engtrakul, Mike Piratch and the top boss from NOK Air, Patee Sarasin. The new prime minister, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has also been asked but is not expected to take up the challenge. The US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney, will also not participate because US diplomats abroad are officially prohibited from participating in such actions.

Finally,

It's a sympathetic action, but I'm not participating. I already give to several charities and as they say, you can't keep going. For many years I have given to the KWF (cancer) and the Heart Foundation and on a smaller scale to the actions in Thailand of Thailandblog Charity.