The "ice bucket challenge", which has traveled the entire world with celebrities "getting wet" to support research into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), has also arrived in Lanzarote. This Wednesday, El Reducto beach has witnessed three "baths" for this cause, which is wrapped in an unstoppable chain of challenges.
One of those who have "gotten wet" has been the Minister of Social Welfare of the Cabildo, Marci Acuña, who had received this challenge through social networks. In his case, the one who challenged him was the president of the Perpetuarte association, Mercedes Crespo. "I didn't know the initiative and when the challenge came to me, I started studying a little about what it is about," explained Acuña, highlighting the importance of this campaign.
ALS is a neuromuscular disease that causes weakness and atrophy in the muscles, eventually leading to death. To this day there is no cure and the causes are also unknown, and that is precisely why this campaign was started, in search of funds to continue research. It is estimated that there are about 4,000 people affected in Spain.
Thanks to this campaign, popularized throughout the world through the hashtag #IceBucketChallenge, this disease has become known and visible, but also, the association that promoted it has managed to raise millions of dollars. And it is that in addition to "getting wet", you also have to deliver a donation. If the ice bucket challenge is not met, the amount to be delivered to the association should be higher.
Acuña launches three new challenges
Along with Marci Acuña, the president of Perpetuarte, who was the one who challenged Acuña, and a member of the Tri WWW association, Lionel Morales, also got wet this Wednesday in El Reducto. The Perpetuarte association is dedicated to the fight against cancer and Tri WWW supports athletes with reduced mobility, to make sport accessible to all.
Now, the chain continues, since the councilor of the Cabildo has launched new challenges. Just before undergoing the ice bath, Acuña has challenged the president of the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés, the president of Asolan, Susana Pérez, and the photographer of La Voz de Lanzarote, Sergio Betancort, to do the same.
They should all now continue the chain, which already has hundreds of thousands of videos on social networks. Many of them are from anonymous people who have done their bit, but those who have multiplied the popularity of this campaign are all the celebrities who have participated.
These include athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo, artists such as Jennifer López and actresses such as Eva Longoria, but also tycoons such as Bill Gates, who received the challenge from none other than Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook.
