Passionate Photographer Defends the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Photography News

Social media feeds are packed this week with videos of brave souls pouring ice cold buckets of water over their heads. Optimistic crowds are applauding the newsfeed takeover as a success. Pessimists criticize the phenomenon. But, photographer Anthony Carbajal has an important message for the haters:

For the uninitiated, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge brings awareness to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and raises money for research. And this is tragically important to Carbajal, who was diagnosed with the terminal illness five months ago. ALS runs in his family. He’s watched his mother’s health deteriorate. And now he’s fearful as his muscles begin to atrophy.

Carbajal’s Contribution to the #ALSIceBucketChallenge

Carbajal, in this emotional response to both the outpouring of support as well as the negativity, expresses his frustration at the lack of funding and awareness seen by the ALS community. The popularity of the challenge is a positive step toward putting this devastating disease in the spotlight. Anyone complaining about seeing too many #IceBucketChallenge videos on Facebook might stop for a moment to consider the good that comes from this sort of craze.

And in the end, Carbajal challenges you…yes, YOU, to also take the challenge. Will you?

“I promise your newsfeed will go back to cat videos and ‘Let It Go’ covers.”