The vice-president of the Association of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Colombia, has reported that Colombian celebrities have failed to make considerable donations to the charity after posting ice bucket videos online.
NBC news reported that US stars have raised more than $31 million for the charity in less than a month, however, in a report with Colombia’s Blu radio, the vice-president of ALS Colombia stated that despite many famous Colombian stars such as Radamel Falcao, Shakira, Juanes, and Carlos Vives posting videos online, only one notable contribution has been made.
To date only $25,880 has been contributed, yet the list of Colombian stars who have posted videos continues to grow, with Sergio Barbosa, Carolina Cruz, and comedian Juanda Caribe recently jumping on the band-wagon.
The Internet craze, which has seen many celebrity and public figures douse themselves in freezing cold water, was organized as a means of raising funds for research into ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
Participants are supposed to post a video of themselves taking part in the challenge and nominate others to participate before making a donation to the charity online.
In her interview with Blu radio, ALS Association vice-president, Rocio Reyes, said that despite the poor monetary response by celebrities, the most important factor was that awareness was being raised about the disease.
Colombia has around 800 sufferers of ALS, which causes a progressive degeneration of the motor neurons of the brain, and in later stages causes paralysis and eventually death, normally six to eight years after diagnosis.
In her interview with Blu radio, Reyes said in regards to the contributions:
“The figure has been improved by 50 million pesos [$26,800]. It is the not fun that is important, but more so the many people here that need help. We ask everyone to join in, to put their hands on their heart and help these people.”