# Quiz: Name one person who has the disorder "Ice bucket challenge" is trying to help **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2014, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282 "2014-08-23T08:46:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/21 "2014-08-23T13:11:13Z")
My friend Alex from church was diagnosed with ALS a year ago. He’s currently in a wheelchair. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/22 "2014-08-23T13:12:42Z")
> [@Eureka](#): > > I was seriously surprised to hear how small the number of people estimated to be suffering from the disease at present is. It does seem counter to all of the examples listed just in this thread. They may be underestimating numbers, and this campaign may end up being key to adjusting their estimates. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/23 "2014-08-23T13:43:48Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I don’t see how anyone can say with a straight face that this campaign didn’t raise awareness for ALS. It’s been wildly successful, in just about any way you care to measure it. Any criticism leveled at it is just knee-jerk backlash. Don’t you know that if it is popular it must be horrible since all of the sheeple are into it. Like McDonald’s, White Bread, Popular Music, and TV shows. Big Bang got worse and worse apparently as more people started watching it. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/24 "2014-08-23T13:47:57Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > It does seem counter to all of the examples listed just in this thread. They may be underestimating numbers, and this campaign may end up being key to adjusting their estimates. I think it has more to do with the fact that most people who are diagnosed with the disease die very quickly. Like, between two and five years. Something like 5,500 people are diagnosed with it every year, but only 30,000 people at any given time are living with the disease. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/25 "2014-08-23T13:51:45Z")
I always confuse it with [ALD](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenoleukodystrophy), which ultimately does the same thing to you. I guess I should go learn up on the differences. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/26 "2014-08-23T14:22:03Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > It was previously known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, for the baseball player. Not any more. As a signing bonus for Masahiro Tanaka _Lou Gehrig’s Disease_ was renamed\* Masahiro Tanaka Disease\*. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/27 "2014-08-23T14:35:19Z")
My wife has done considerable work helping the patient organizations here in Taiwan and in Japan, including serving as a translator at conferences. She knows many of them. ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/28 "2014-08-23T15:30:13Z")
My former brother-in-law, now deceased. I’m surprised at you, **Namkcalb**. Did you think the charity in the ice-water dousing was a joke? ---
**Author:** ![minionkat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@minionkat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minionkat)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/29 "2014-08-23T15:46:41Z")
I just watched a documentary in the spring about Jason Becker. I think it was called Not Dead Yet. Amazing story. I know two people with ALS. One very advanced, the other only recently diagnosed. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/30 "2014-08-23T21:30:59Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > It does seem counter to all of the examples listed just in this thread. They may be underestimating numbers, and this campaign may end up being key to adjusting their estimates. > [@Spud](#): > > Don’t you know that if it is popular it must be horrible since all of the sheeple are into it. Like McDonald’s, White Bread, Popular Music, and TV shows. Big Bang got worse and worse apparently as more people started watching it. In all fairness, it seems like the bulk of examples are people the posters who mentioned them could have already told you had ALS, without the ice bucket thing. If all the people participating in this thread could name one thing they’ve learned about ALS due to the ice bucket challenge, I’d buy that it’s an unequivocal success at raising awareness. As it is, it’s an unequivocal success at raising money, but of fairly dubious success at raising awareness. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/31 "2014-08-23T21:46:11Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > In all fairness, it seems like the bulk of examples are people the posters who mentioned them could have already told you had ALS, without the ice bucket thing. This is what I was about to post. I’d say that what the OP’s questions are really measuring is how successful the ice bucket challenge has been at raising awareness of the ice bucket challenge. I know what the disorder is and could easily name at least one famous person who had it (since in the US the disorder is commonly referred to using this person’s name), but I’ve known that for years. I haven’t learned the names of any _other_ people who have/had this disorder from media coverage of the ice bucket challenge, although I could name a few of the celebrities who’ve dumped cold water on themselves. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/32 "2014-08-24T02:23:12Z")
My stepfather. ☹ (I was about to nominate this thread for “most misspellings this month,” but it turns out it’s acceptable to write “neurone” in the UK, so that takes care if about half the misspellings!) ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/33 "2014-08-24T02:50:06Z")
British journalists Jill Tweedie and Glen Worsnip. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/34 "2014-08-24T03:11:21Z")
I don’t see that awareness of ALS = knowing the name of someone with ALS. A better question might be something like, What do you know about ALS that you didn’t before this campaign? or Is ALS more in the forefront of your consciousness than it was before this campaign? ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/35 "2014-08-24T03:18:07Z")
> [@susan](#): > > …A better question might be something like, What do you know about ALS that you didn’t before this campaign? or Is ALS more in the forefront of your consciousness than it was before this campaign? Nothing; And No. ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/36 "2014-08-24T03:40:12Z")
> [@minionkat](#): > > I just watched a documentary in the spring about Jason Becker. I think it was called Not Dead Yet. Amazing story. Same person I was going to say. When I made my donation I did it in his honor. In November 1996 I went to a benefit for him in Chicago. Over 12 hours of guitar shredding (Tony MacAlpine, Dave Uhrich, Marty Friedman, Zakk Wylde and Vinnie Moore were some of the performers). The show was headlined by Eddie Van Halen, Steve Lukather, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey. Ever since then I’ve kept an eye on his condition. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/37 "2014-08-24T03:46:46Z")
Former University of Alabama and NFL player Kevin Turner. > **[Kevin Turner (running back)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Turner_(running_back))** > > Paul Kevin Turner (June 12, 1969 – March 24, 2016) was a professional American football fullback. He played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. Turner died after a multi-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which had been triggered by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). > Turner attended Prattville High School in Prattville, Alabama. Playing for the school's gridiron football team, Turner was a member of t... > **[KTF | The Kevin Turner Foundation](https://www.kevinturnerfoundation.org)** > > KTF is working to raise awareness to the seriousness of brain trauma in athletes, at every level of competition, and its connection to ALS. KTF also financially supports efforts to study, treat, prevent and ultimately cure this disease. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/38 "2014-08-24T05:29:01Z")
I knew of former New Orleans Saint Steve Gleason, famous for the blocked punt against the Falcons in the first game back in the Superdome after Katrina. ---
**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/39 "2014-08-24T05:31:49Z")
Pete Frates, the guy who started this whole thing, is from my home town, so…him. Also, my high school homeroom teacher and soccer coach. Beverly, MA has given me two really good reasons to put cold water on my head. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282/40 "2014-08-24T06:01:40Z")
[Michael Zaslow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Zaslow)- was an old-time soap opera actor, diagnosed with ALS in the 90s. He was a good actor, but eventually he couldn’t hide it anymore and he was fired from his long-time role when he couldn’t deliver his lines. He wanted to keep working so he could retain his insurance and benefits, so he put out the word that he still wanted acting work. Another soap opera, One Life to Live, picked him up and cast him as a guy with ALS. He used a computer setup a la Stephen Hawking to voice his lines, and became quite the fan favorite. He stayed in his role right to the end about a year later. He was only in his mid-50s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-name-one-person-who-has-the-disorder-ice-bucket-challenge-is-trying-to-help/696282.md?page=3)