re: Who comes up with these lame challenges?

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The origins of the idea of dumping cold water on one's head to raise money for charity are unclear and have been attributed to multiple sources. During the Northern-Hemisphere winter of 2013–14, a challenge of unknown origin often called the "Cold Water Challenge" became popular on social media in areas of the Northern United States. The task usually involved the option of either donating money to cancer research or having to jump into cold water.[4]

One version of the challenge, which took place in New Zealand as early as July 7, 2014, involved dousing participants with cold water and then donating to a charity; for example, the Auckland Division of the Cancer Society[5]. As with similar challenges, it was usually filmed so footage can be shared online.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation popularized the "Cold Water Challenge" in early 2014 to raise funds as an unsanctioned spin-off of the polar plunge most widely used by Special Olympics as a fundraiser. [6] On May 20, 2014 the Washington Township, New Jersey fire department posted a video on YouTube participating in the "Cold Water Challenge" with fire hoses and members of the department were subsequently punished for utilizing fire department equipment without permission. [7]

File:Atlanta Falcons Take the Ice Bucket Challenge.ogvPlay media
Atlanta Falcons players, coaches, and staff take the Ice Bucket Challenge.
The challenge was popularized in the United States on June 30, 2014, when personalities of the program Morning Drive, which airs weekdays on Golf Channel, televised the social-media phenomenon, and performed a live, on-air ice bucket challenge.[8] Soon after, the challenge was brought to mainstream audiances when television anchor Matt Lauer did the Ice Bucket challenge on July 15, 2014 on NBC's The Today Show at Greg Norman's request.[9][10] On the same day, golfer Chris Kennedy did the challenge and then challenged his cousin Jeanette Senerchia of Pelham, NY, whose husband, Anthony, has had ALS for 11 years. A day later she did the challenge while her 6-year-old daughter filmed her in front of their house. Senerchia's network on Facebook connected with Pat Quinn, a 31-year-old in Yonkers, NY, who was diagnosed with ALS in March 2013. Quinn called upon his friends and family. Soon, his whole network was posting challenges, including family in Florida, friends in Ireland and Greece, and a bar full of locals, which was broadcast on local television.[citation needed]


Local Green Bay radio and TV personality John Maino performs the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
Quinn's Facebook network overlapped with Massachusetts resident and former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates, who has ALS and began posting about the challenge on Twitter.[11] In the following weeks, many celebrities and notable individuals also took the challenge.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has also become popular in the United Kingdom through social media, with participants doing it for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Macmillan Cancer Support.

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