Macmillan Cancer defends itself after allegations it has attempted to hijack ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Charity Macmillan Cancer has been accused of attempting to hijack the Ice Bucket Challenge currently being taken by well-known faces around the world, away from the ALS Association.
The Ice Bucket Challenge, which as of Sunday 24 August had made $70.2m worldwide in donations for the charity that attempts to battle Motor Neurone disease, has been taken by a diverse range of personalities such as Will Smith, Shakira, Bill Gates and Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond.
That's quite a soaking! Well done guys RT @CdStEvEuK: @macmillancancer https://t.co/RdqmzSB2KR
— Macmillan Cancer (@macmillancancer) August 23, 2014
We're seeing some smashing @virgin staff #icebucketchallenges following their nomination by @richardbranson http://t.co/KMvvdOmNJD — Macmillan Cancer (@macmillancancer) August 21, 2014
& this is my 6yr old son, Archie, taking the @macmillancancer #IceBucketChallenge. Text ICE to 70550 to donate £3. http://t.co/8Q7lw7dJ0V
— MacmillanBath&NSom (@MacmillanAvon) August 24, 2014
Each person taking the challenge in the name of Macmillan has been asked to donate £3 to the charity. However, Macmillan Cancer Care came in for criticism for seemingly attempting to divert the challenge and has taken to Twitter in an attempt to defend itself.
@MylesDyer @CherryWallis We've seen some negative comments but we've also seen people standing up for us + posting the facts #heartwarming — Macmillan Cancer (@macmillancancer) August 24, 2014
Another tweet from the charity claimed that its supporters had begun to fundraise through taking the challenge in early July.
.@CherryWallis @MylesDyer Just to clarify our supporters have been doing the challenge since early July, long before ALS one started — Macmillan Cancer (@macmillancancer) August 24, 2014
@MeganCNaylor @macmillancancer why the slating of macmillan? A charity that has helped millions of people with cancer & supported families. — Andy Smith (@canarysmiff) August 24, 2014
@macmillancancer @CherryWallis @MylesDyer cancer has a very big profile! ALS/MND does not. Therefore they should get more credit for this. — Jodie prest (@JodiePrest) August 24, 2014
@macmillancancer @MylesDyer @CherryWallis This is very poor of Macmillan. It will put a lot of people off donating to you including me. — Dean Stoddart (@DeanStoddart) August 24, 2014
A blog post on the charity’s website by its head of digital, Amanda Neylon, attempted to bring some perspective to the controversy.
“We’ve seen thousands of our supporters braving the challenge for us in the past few weeks. And we think it’s awesome that they’ve chosen to do it for us. But people are also drenching themselves for other charities, and that’s just great too. Whoever people choose to raise money for, we’re just delighted that people are fundraising,” she stated.
The latest names to take the challenge were Alex Salmond his deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, ahead of the second referendum debate on Scottish Independence, where he will once again face rival Alistair Darling (who took the challenge last week.)