Ice Bucket Challenge 2015

Grab a bucket! Last year's worldwide phenomenon – the ALS/MND Ice Bucket Challenge – is back this August, driven by the global ALS/MND community's resolve to continue raising awareness and funds until a cure for motor neurone disease (MND) is found.

'The Ice Bucket Challenge propelled MND into the global spotlight and until a cure is found, that's where it needs to stay," says Ms Carol Birks, National Executive Director of MND Australia.

Last year's inaugural Challenge raised $220 million worldwide. In Australia, donations to MND Australia and the state MND associations exceeded $3 million and are being used to enhance support services and fund new MND research grants.

'MND care and research need continued investment," says Ms Birks.

'While the Ice Bucket Challenge has accelerated the pace of research, we need a lot more money to move researchers closer to finding a treatment or cure. Until that time, we need to support those Australians living with MND who have complex and often costly care needs. "

For most people living with MND, the early symptoms – slurring of words, difficulty holding objects or stumbling – rapidly escalate to an unstoppable wave of paralysis that robs them of their ability to move, eat, swallow and finally breathe. There is no effective treatment for MND and no cure – yet.

Pete Frates and Pat Quinn, the American founders of the ALS/MND Ice Bucket Challenge who are living with MND, have vowed to continue the Challenge 'Every August Until A Cure". They will kick-start the Ice Bucket Challenge from Boston on 31 July. MND is known as ALS in the USA.