USC Ice Bucket Challenge: What is it?

By Vinny D.

In the summer of 2014, pro golfer Chris Kennedy started the challenge originally as a joke, But it later gained fame quickly with other people doing it, going viral and becoming a major trend for several months. Now in spring of 2025, the challenge has come back-- but for a different cause.

Wade Jefferson, who is a junior at the University of South Carolina, founded the MIND club (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) after one of his friends died to suicide. The point of the foundation is to raise awareness for those who struggle with mental health.

The original challenge was meant to raise awareness for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), which is defined by the Mayo Clinic as: "a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes loss of muscle control. The disease gets worse over time." Anytime someone participated in this challenge, they were supposed to donate to the foundation along with putting a link with their posted video and nominating people to participate.

For the USC MIND challenge, participating is done just by mainly nominating people. It still brings in attention to the challenge and raises awareness but there is less attention to raising money as it is also not a research based challenge as for ALS the money helped further the research behind ALS. 

Most people who participate in the challenge did it mostly off of being nominated and following a trend not knowing what it really supports and raises awareness for. An anonymous student here at Mountain Range said: "I really didn't know what the point was. I did it mostly because my friends did it and nominated me so I did it too."

Spreading the word about MIND is very important to those affected. Around 24 suicides occur for every 100,000 people. And every 40 seconds someone commits suicide according to the World Health Organization. This is a very important foundation that can change so many lives. This USC MIND Challenge is taking over the world and is one of the most influential trends/challenges as celebrities, athletes and the common men are participating.

If you have not been nominated or have not donated yet and would like to support, we here at The Range nominate YOU to participate in the USC MIND Challenge along with encouraging you to consider donating to this cause. Film yourself or someone else pouring ice and water on you, and tag Mountain Range, as well as the people you nominate, in the video and post it. Make sure to mention that it's in support of raising awareness for mental health! Once you participate in this challenge you must nominate 2-5 more people to participate and give them 24 hours to respond back with their participation. Donations can be made at https://support.activeminds.org/fundraiser/6221101. Remember to include this link in your post so others can donate.

If you or someone you know need someone to talk to, or need any help, remember it's okay to share those feelings. You can contact someone that you trust in your life, or contact the suicide prevention hotline by dialing 988. You're not alone.