By Scott T. Sterling
Over the course of this summer, the Ice Bucket Challenge has grown into a genuine social phenomenon as a highly effective way to raise awareness and funds to battle Lou Gehrig’s Disease, also known as ALS. Inspired in large part by Boston College baseball star Pete Frates, the challenge has blossomed to include celebrities of all sorts, including sports heroes, movie stars, political figures all enduring a bucket of ice water on their heads in pursuit of a cure for this debilitating disease. Since Frates initial challenge, donations to battle ALS have reached over $15 million, compared to just $1.4 million last year.
Make donations to battle ALS right here.
Music stars have also joined in the fight, with a cavalcade of artists across all genres joining in on the ice bucket phenomenon while calling out fellow musicians to also take part. Here is a collection of some of the biggest names who’ve gone under the ice in this valiant battle against this terrible disease.
Drake – The rap superstar employed his current tour mate, Lil Wayne, to do the honors after a concert in Pittsburgh over the weekend (Aug. 17). Fans were given an extra treat when Drizzy followed the challenge by stripping off his shirt. Drake upped the ante by challenging pop queen Beyoncé to face the ice water.
Lil Wayne – Not to be outdone by Drake, Wayne used his “Weezy Wednesdays” segment for his challenge, calling out everyone watching the video to join in.
Taylor Swift - We’re especially fond of Swift’s edition, as she makes a point to emphasize donating money to the cause in her clips. Promising $100 donated for each person in her video, she challenged fellow pop star, Selena Gomez, to also take the plunge.
