Short for
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease". It's a neurodegenerative disease characterized by muscle
spasticity, rapidly progressive weakness due to muscle atrophy, and difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing. ALS is the most common of the five
motor neuron disease.
Peter
Frates was diagnosed with ALS, and due to appearences at various
meetings and such events, the ALSIceWater challenge was created.