The USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge has been trending across social media platforms all over the U.S. This viral challenge was created to raise awareness for mental health. It began at the University of South Carolina (USC) and quickly spread nationwide, gaining attention and support from people everywhere.
In 2014, there was a different ice bucket challenge to raise money and increase recognition for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS. ALS is a degenerative illness with no known cure. This was when the ice bucket challenge was created. It raised almost 220 million dollars to find a cure.
Now, we use the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise money and awareness for mental health. In late March, Wade Jefferson, a student from the MIND (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) club at USC, brought back the challenge. He did this because he lost two of his friends to suicide, and decided it was time to raise awarness for mental health. The club made an Instagram video, bringing back the ice bucket challenge. This video has received over 3.4 million views and 59,000 likes.
People take part in this trend after being nominated by friends or family. Nominees expected to complete the challenge in under 24 hours to keep it going. What started with just one person at USC has now reached millions.
Sia Hiayama did the USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge. She was nominated by a friend and shared, “I was happy and excited to do the ice bucket challenge because it raises awareness for mental health.”
Audrey Steele was also nominated by her friend. She felt honored to be nominated, and said, “After I was drenched in freezing cold water, I felt happy that I raised awareness for the mental health of kids who might be struggling around me.”
People at our school are not the only ones who have participated in this challenge. Influencers including, James Charles, Haley Baylee, Carter Kench, Brooke Monk, Mr Beast, and many more have participated, too.
At first, Wade Jefferson set a goal to raise $500 So far, this mental health campaign has raised over $400,000, getting closer to its new goal of $500,000. But as the challenge spread across the country, he realized it was much bigger than he expected and set a higher goal.
