The ALS ice bucket challenge has literally taken the world by storm. Malta is no exception and thousands have poured a bucket of water and ice cubes over the head and posted their video online.

But are we all actually following the rules and donating to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis research? That question may never be answered.

In the U.S alone, more than 5,000 people are diagnosed with ALS, the most common of five Motor Neurone Diseases, every year. The neurogenerative disease is associated with a number of symptoms, including muscle spasticity, rapidly progressive weakness due to muscle atrophy, and difficulty in speaking, swallowing and breathing. The median survival time from onset to death is 39 months, and only 4% survive longer than 10 years.

The Ice Bucket Challenge started some time in 2013 although at the time it was known as the cold water challenge and the main aim was to donate money for cancer research. Earlier this year, however, the focus shifted on ALS and, with the help of a number of celebrity videos, the campaign went viral.

The rules are simple: you can pour a bucket of ice water over your head and donate or else donate $100 to the ALS association. Upon completing the challenge one must then nominate three others to do the same.

According to the ALSA website, until Tuesday more than $88 million had been donated to the cause. During the same period last year, ALSA had only managed to collect some $2.6 million in donations.

The challenge has certainly gone viral and one cannot log into Facebook at any one time without seeing five or six more friends who have taken up the challenge. But is everyone donating or are some doing it only to feel part of a group, or for attention?

It is practically impossible to answer that question. For starters, ALSA does not provide information related to country-specific donations. When asked for the total number of donations from Malta, an ALSA spokesperson said: “we cannot provide that information.”

Apart from the lack of information, many Maltese have been “bending” the rules and donating to local charities instead of giving money to ALS research.

Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil, for example donated twice (although he took the challenge once); first to Puttinu Cares and then to the Hospice Movement.  Other MPs and members of the general public have followed suit and donated to various local charities. Fr Savio Vella’s donation went to MOAS – the Migrant Offshore Aid Station – whose aim is to assist migrants in danger of drowning.

Some say it is better to donate locally while others argue that that is not the aim of the Ice Bucket Challenge. Being a nation divided on everything from politics, to football to village festas, we may never agree on this issue but, at least, the Ice Bucket challenge has once again invigorated the spirit of generosity the Maltese are known for. Let us hope that anyone doing the challenge will donate to a just cause, whether a local charity or an international organisation.