“It stung” were the two words that junior Carmen VanDyke used to describe her experience. After all, dumping a bucket of ice water on oneself is no comfortable or relaxing task. Last Sunday, VanDyke partook in a fundraiser that is spreading like wildfire in terms of popularity.

The “Ice Bucket Challenge,” created by former Boston College baseball captain Pete Frates, has sparked interest to many and has since become a phenomenon. The rules are simple: when challenged, a person must upload a video of dumping a bucket of ice water on oneself to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter within 24 hours or donate $100 to ALS.

ALS, also known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” takes serious effect on the body by damaging nerve cells. “…it’s crazy to think that there are people out there that have that feeling a lot of the time; the feeling when the ice hits your nerves,” VanDyke said.

The challenge was invented as a way of raising not only ALS awareness, but raising money as well. In the past 23 days, the ALS foundation has raised a remarkable $15 million from the challenge alone.

The fundraiser has become popular among students and celebrities alike. Taylor Swift, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Zuckerberg, Usain Bolt and even billionaire Bill Gates has participated in the viral cause. Artist Justin Timberlake tweeted on Aug. 13, “Thanks @jimmyfallon @theroots @questlove @highbones for the #ALSIceBucketChallenge: Donate! alsa.org.” Many celebrities accept the challenge, but also choose to donate toward the ALS Foundation as well.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has blown up social media and frozen students at EHS.

“I think that it’s great that it’s going around the high school…it was fun, and I hope to see more people do it around school,” VanDyke said.