Chances are you have seen videos popping up all over Facebook and YouTube where someone gets a big bucket of ice-water dumped on their heads. No, this is not some hilarious prank or joke; it is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease as it is more commonly known in the states, is a neurodegenerative disease that slowly reduces a patient’s ability to control their own bodies.

The ice bucket challenge started early in the summer as a unique way to raise awareness for this disease.

A person who is challenged has 24 hours to film themselves completing the challenge or donate money to the ALS Association.

Upon completing the challenge, the “star” of the current challenge then challenges three other people, and so on and so forth.

Many big name celebrities have accepted and completed the challenge, including Bill Gates, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt (twice!).

However, as the challenges are starting to become mainstream, many are starting to wonder if the point of the challenges has been lost amidst the internet craze. Although awareness has definitely been raised, many like to comment that the challenges have become more of a way to show off your cool rather than helping a cause.

The ALS Association, on the other hand, couldn’t be happier with how the challenges are going. The ice bucket challenge has been so successful that the ALS Association claims they have raised $15.6 million in donations compared to $1.8 million during the same period last year.

So whether or not you are down with the bucket because it looks cool or it’s for a good cause, the fact of the matter is, it’s working.