​MND and Macmillan see income soar via viral fundraiser

This summer’s ice bucket challenge phenomenon has now raised a total of £11.3 million.

The Motor Neurone Disease Association said it had raised £6.8m from the viral fundraising challenge while Macmillan has gained £4.5m.

The challenge, imported from America, has taken the nation by storm over the last three months and has seen people from all walks of life and all age groups getting doused in ice cold water before nominating others to do the same.

It will help fund world class research, improve care and support for people living with motor neurone disease

In America, the ALS Association, which also supports those with motor neurone disease, has raised around £61m from the craze.

Douglas Graham, director of fundraising at the MND Association, said: “We are delighted by all the incredible generosity and support we’re receiving at the moment. This unexpected bonus of £6.8m will allow us to make progress in key areas of our core work.

“It will help fund world class research, improve care and support for people living with motor neurone disease and help raise even more awareness about this rare and incurable disease.”

JustGiving figures showed that over 765,000 individual donations have been made to charity pages for the ice bucket challenge.

It saw 247 charities receive challenge donations, with 90 per cent of donations from the challenge coming via text.