Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge?

From mid-2013 to early 2014, the ice bucket challenge went viral on social media. It involved either donating money to fund cancer research or taking a dive into icy water.

In the summer of 2015, the challenge shifted to help victims of Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). A number of high profile celebrities took part, including LeBron James, Weird Al Yankovic, and even President George W. Bush.

Monetarily, this was a huge success – generating over $220 Million worldwide.

And – according to a recent piece from NBC News – there are indications that the money raised has delivered some positive results. An experimental medication has been created to help patients suffering from ALS.

It’s not a cure, but it does show promise in slowing down the progression of disease, enabling patients to enjoy a better quality of life longer.

“Patients keep telling me their No. 1 goal is to be able to retain physical function for as long as possible,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Sabrina Paganoni.

And according to Pagononi, the ice bucket challenge played an important role in moving this research forward. “It put ALS on the map and raised awareness of the disease and attracted more investigators and investment to the research.”

So while there’s still plenty of challenges to be overcome in the world, it’s great to hear that a silly stunt on social media has delivered some very positive news.

In my opinion, there’s plenty of things to be hopeful about – including your own financial planning. For a free 15-minute call, contact us today at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or book online.

Regards,
Nikki Earley, CFP®