Social media has been flooded with videos of people dousing themselves with a bucket of ice water and challenging friends and family to do the same. Chances are, you've seen several in your news feed.

This cold, wet trend started out as a grassroots stunt - believed to be launched by pro golfer Chris Kennedy in Sarasota, Florida, to support his wife's cousin who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - and has now gone viral as people worldwide have taken the ice-bucket challenge.

According to the ALS Association, in just a few short weeks donations have topped $79 million. On just one day, the organization received $10 million in donations.

Athletes, celebrities, business leaders and politicians have joined the masses dumping and donating. Over 700 people participated in a world record setting Ice Bucket Challenge in Melbourne, Australia.

ALS, often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.

For more things your family can do to help others in need, click here.