The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was an online phenomenon that began in 2014. It was a fundraising campaign to raise awareness and money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The challenge involved people pouring a bucket of ice water over their heads and then nominating others to do the same. The challenge was started by Pete Frates, a former college baseball player who was diagnosed with ALS in 2012. The challenge went viral and raised millions of dollars for ALS research. The initials ALS stand for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.