'Ice Bucket Challenge' Donations Surpass $50 Million
BOSTON (CBS) – The Ice Bucket Challenge reached a new milestone Friday.
The ALS Association says donations now stand at $53.3 million between July 29 and August 21.
Those donations have come from 1.1 million new donors, in addition to existing contributors.
During the same time period last year, the ALS Association received $2.2 million in donations.
Thanks to the challenge, contributions have grown about $10 million a day this week.
To participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge, social media users post a video of themselves dumping a bucket of ice water over their head and challenge several friends to donate to ALS research and douse themselves as well.
While the Ice Bucket Challenge has spread worldwide, Facebook statistics show that Boston is the epicenter of the campaign.
Former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2012, helped kick start the Ice Bucket Challenge earlier this summer.
MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON