MNDA and Macmillan see huge surge in donations after ice bucketing goes viral

Over £5m has now been raised in the UK through the ice bucket challenge via donations to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The challenge, which involves fundraisers having iced water thrown over them before nominating other individuals, has gone viral across the country over the last three months.

MND has gained the bulk of donations with £3m while Macmillan said it had benefitted to the tune of £2m.

And MND’s sister charity, MND Scotland, says it has raised just over £170,000 from the challenge – more than doubling its annual fundraising income.

The phenomenon originally started in the US by the charity ALS – the American term for MND – and has so far raised $80m.

Macmillan faced criticism for hijacking the challenge in the UK but countered this by saying it originated in New Zealand and was brought to the UK from there by Macmillan supporters.