<P> The Ice Bucket Challenge , sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge , is an activity involving the dumping of a bucket of ice and water over a person 's head , either by another person or self - administered , to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS , also known as motor neuron disease and in the US as Lou Gehrig 's disease ) and encourage donations to research . It went viral on social media during July -- August 2014 . In the US , many people participated for the ALS Association , and in the UK , many people participated for the Motor Neurone Disease Association , although some individuals opted to donate their money from the Ice Bucket Challenge to other organizations . </P>
what was the purpose of the ice bucket challenge
awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis