Everyone and their grandma are doing this challenge to raise money for ALS charity.
But there has been a spate of deaths recently from people doing the challenge succumbing to heart attacks and hypothermia after being dumped with ice cold water.
[quote author=Goog Lee link=topic=92076.msg582825#msg582825 date=1408561225]
how does this work? who is paying when someone is soaked?
[/quote]
Great question! ALS Association has raised $16 million from July 29 through August 18 and raised $19 million in donations for all of 2012!. The ice bucket challenge works by people recording themselves getting soaked with buckets of ice water and posting it on social media. The who is soaked then nominates other people to take on the same challenge. If the person refuses, he/she must donate $100 or more to the charity. (Most people accept the ice challenge, get soaked and still donate money too). This also created buzz and focused more attention to ALS awareness (Research for a cure for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). People who are not participating are also donating to this cause.
There has also been criticism that this method of raising money and awareness is a dreadful waste of clean drinking water. Something which millions around the world don't have.