If you spent any time on the internet back in 2014, chances are you saw someone—your neighbour, your favourite celebrity, or even your boss—dumping a freezing bucket of water over their head. Yep, we’re talking about the Ice Bucket Challenge, the viral sensation that raised millions for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) research.
Now, more than a decade later, the Ice Bucket Challenge is making a splash all over again. But this time? It’s got a brand new mission.
What is the Ice Bucket Challenge?
The original Ice Bucket Challenge was a social media phenomenon where people filmed themselves pouring a bucket of ice-cold water over their heads, posted the video, and nominated friends to do the same, all while raising awareness and funds for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
It kicked off in 2014, when professional golfer Chris Kennedy nominated his cousin Jeanette Senerchia after her husband was diagnosed with ALS. What started as a small, personal gesture soon caught fire, thanks to other advocates like Pat Quinn and Pete Frates, and turned into one of the most successful online fundraising campaigns of all time.
Even the biggest names got involved, from Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates, to George W. Bush and Steven Spielberg.
Did the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge actually do anything?
Short answer: yes, absolutely.
While some critics at the time dismissed it as a fleeting viral trend, the Ice Bucket Challenge raised more than $115 million for the ALS Association in just a matter of months. That money wasn’t just for show, it helped fund significant research breakthroughs, including the discovery of NEK1, one of the most common genes associated with the disease.
The challenge also gave ALS global visibility, bringing attention to a disease many people had never even heard of before.
So, why is the Ice Bucket Challenge back?
Fast forward to 2025 and the Ice Bucket Challenge has resurfaced, but with a twist.
This time, the focus isn’t on ALS, but on mental health. The University of South Carolina’s Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) Club kicked off a new version of the challenge called #SpeakYourMIND, encouraging participants to take the same cold plunge, but in support of mental health awareness.
It was launched by Wade Jefferson, a USC student who started the campaign in honour of two close friends he lost to suicide. The goal was to raise just $500 for the nonprofit Active Minds, but the movement quickly exploded, surpassing $190,000 and counting.
Is the new Ice Bucket Challenge the same as the old one?
Not exactly. While the mechanics are the same — pour, post, nominate, donate — the mission has changed.
The original challenge was laser-focused on ALS research. The new #SpeakYourMIND Ice Bucket Challenge is all about breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging open conversations, particularly among young people. The donations now go to Active Minds, an organisation dedicated to mental health advocacy in schools, universities, and workplaces.
And the reaction? Mixed. Some people love the idea of the challenge living on in a new form, while others feel like it’s overshadowing the original ALS-focused purpose. Even the ALS Association weighed in, expressing their support for the new generation of awareness-raising.
How can you join the Ice Bucket Challenge in 2025?
If you want to take part, the rules are easy:
- Fill a bucket with ice water.
- Record yourself dumping it over your head.
- Post the video on social media using the hashtag #SpeakYourMIND.
- Nominate 2-5 people to do the same.
- Make a donation to Active Minds (or the cause of your choice).
The Ice Bucket Challenge is no longer just a 2014 nostalgia trip, it’s proof that viral activism can evolve. Whether you’re supporting ALS or mental health initiatives, the heart of the challenge remains the same: community, compassion, and a little bit of cold water.
So, if you see the Ice Bucket Challenge popping back up on your feed, now you know. It’s not just a rerun; it’s a new wave of social good.
