When The #IceBucketChallenge Took Over The Internet...

If you haven't heard of the #IceBucketChallenge yet - WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?? Thousands of people are filming themselves being soaked with buckets of icy cold water and then posting it online - but why? Well, it's all in the name of charity and celebrities such as Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga are all getting involved.

It all started in Florida on 15th July when a man called Charles Kennedy was nominated by a friend to do an 'Ice Bucket Challenge'. At that particular time it was just for fun but Charles decided to donate money to ALS research (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a form of motor neurone disease) after doing the challenge and he then nominated others to take part. It spiralled from there and in a matter of weeks the challenge has gone viral and taken over the internet!

In the UK people are taking part in the challenge to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and other smaller charities. In my home town just outside the centre of Manchester, people have been taking part and donating to the James McCarthy Foundation. James (the brother of an old schoolfriend of mine) has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour after beating the disease once already. He has created a 'bucket list' of things he wants to do before the illness beats him and the donations raised from the challenges are helping him to achieve his goals. What started off as a challenge between his friends soon reached celebrities like Gary Neville and Paul Scholes and now even Cristiano Ronaldo has done the challenge for James.

I think it's incredible how something so simple can raise a phenomenal amount of awareness and funds for such worthy causes. Back in March this year the 'No Make Up Selfie' raised millions for Cancer Research UK and now in just over one month the #IceBucketChallenge has raised around £14 million.

I really hope these types of challenges carry on going viral and raising more money so that charities can receive the funds they deserve.

Here's my challenge:

Have you done the #IceBucketChallenge? Which is your favourite celeb challenge video?