Well it finally happened! Through social media, I was challenged last week to do the ice bucket challenge. I was nominated by a friend who had already poured cold water over herself to raise awareness of the disease ALS and to raise funds for research. Previously, she had 
been nominated on social media by someone else who had already done the same. The ice bucket challenge is thought to have originated in the US and it went viral on social media in July and August this year. So it hasn’t taken long for me to be nominated.
I have to confess, I had forgotten what ALS actually is! ALS is the abbreviation for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. We in the UK call it motor neurone disease (MND for short) – a very closely related medical condition. Stephen Hawking has the condition, but I don’t know anyone personally with motor neurone disease, so I decided to do the challenge but to make a donation to a mental health charity. In addition, I decided not to nominate anyone on social media so as not to put undue pressure on my friends and colleagues.
Mindful of criticisms about wastage of such a precious resource – water- I did my bucket challenge in front of my newly planted walnut tree, so it also benefited from the watering!
As is customary, I have made a video of the event.
Warning Please think carefully before doing this challenge if you have a heart condition or other serious medical problem, if your are over 70 years or if you are pregnant. Please also, do not take risks in open water or near electricity!