Times of Malta journalist Ariadne Massa has asked me to “be a sport” and take the ice bucket challenge. There is nothing that would make me happier than to take up the gauntlet and participate in this commendable cause.

The ALS ice bucket challenge has gone viral and is now a phenomenon spanning the globe. I have no doubt that a large part of its success boils down to the light moment of entertainment afforded to the thousands of individuals who opt to be showered in ice and upload their video at that very instant onto the internet.

It is important though not to lose sight of the cause behind this viral phenomenon and I cannot sufficiently emphasise how important and humbling that cause really is.

ALS is short for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A quick search on the net will tell you that it is a “progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord”. The disease affects muscle control and leads to patients gradually losing control of each of their bodily functions before becoming totally paralysed. The disease is also present in Malta where it is known as motor neurone disease.

The dual aims of the ALS ice bucket challenge are to raise awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research.

I have learnt that, in our country, the Hospice Malta is the NGO that supports and caters for the needs of persons afflicted by motor neurone disease. On their website, Hospice Malta clearly state that they are one-fourth funded by the Department of Health while the other three-fourths depend upon the generosity of the public through donations.

The challenge of motor neurone disease sufferers, unfortunately, lives on

The multi-disciplinary trained staff and volunteers at Hospice Malta are people who rise to the real ALS challenge by providing palliative care and supporting the people out there who suffer from motor neurone disease. In so doing, they are also supporting the families of suffers of ALS. Their challenges for each of these groups of people – voluntary organisations, ALS sufferers and their families – exist day in, day out and will still be there once the viral phenomenon on the internet dies out.

Taking up the ALS challenge also means doing our bit by making sure that awareness is created about this reality that exists in Malta. As the leader of a party that has strong beliefs in human potential and views the well-being of the individual – from the moment they are born until the moment they die – as the building block of our society, I cannot but take this opportunity to do my part and promote the cause of Hospice Malta through my own donation and by urging others to follow suit.

I am sure that when all the ice has melted away and the buckets are set aside, our continuing support of the sterling work being performed by Hospice Malta will have a more lasting effect.

There are people out there right now suffering the effects of this disease. Theirs is a challenge that, unfortunately, lives on.

Rise up to the challenge, donate now.

Donations to Hospice Malta can be made through their website at http://hospicemalta.org .