Last summer, the world was introduced to a new way to keep (sometimes painfully) cool while raising money for research into the neurodegenerative disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

What began in Boston as an act of solidarity for a few friends quickly spread around the world. Soon, it was commonplace to see videos of friends, family members and celebrities pouring water over their heads, donating to the Washington, D.C.-based ALS Association and challenging others to follow suit.

Brian Frederick, a Lawrence native who now lives in the nation’s capital and is chief of staff for the ALS Association, said the popularity of the Ice Bucket Challenge can be traced back to three men who suffer from ALS: Pat Quinn, Anthony Senerchia and Peter Frates.

Currently, more than $220 million has been raised for the association globally, Frederick said.

In late June, Frederick, Quinn and several others accepted 11 Gold Lions and the Grand Prix For Good award in Cannes, France.

“We were incredibly, incredibly humbled and overwhelmed,” Frederick said. “Many people spend their careers trying to win one Gold Lion, and we were lucky enough to win 11 and the Grand Prix For Good. It was an amazing experience and spoke to how truly big of a global phenomenon this was.”

Now, Frederick said, he and the rest of the movement are trying to keep the ball rolling.

“($220 million) is certainly amazing and huge, but it’s still a small fraction of the amount that it takes to bring a new treatment to market,” he said. “It’s well over a billion dollars to bring a new treatment to market. It’s a constant push to get funding to make sure we’re funding the best science and advancing the research.”

Frederick said the association wants to make the Ice Bucket Challenge an annual event, quoting Quinn’s five-word acceptance speech for the challenge’s 2015 Webby Award: “every August until a cure.”

The organization is working to keep the challenge interesting and reach those who escaped last summer’s bitter-cold waters.

“This year, we want everybody that didn’t partake last year to try it and take the challenge,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun, and the people that did try it last year can make theirs bigger and better.”

Lastly, Frederick challenges the entire city of Lawrence to this year’s Ice Bucket Challenge. Post your video on social media, challenge your friends and head over to www.alsa.org to make a contribution.