The Diseases We Donate To Aren't Always The Diseases That Kill Us

The Diseases We Donate To Aren't Always The Diseases That Kill Us
WIDNES, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Gemma Davison of Liverpool Ladies takes part in the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' after the FAWSL match between Liverpool Ladies and Notts County Ladies at Select Security Stadium on August 24, 2014 in Widnes, England. (Photo by Anna Gowthorpe/The FA via Getty Images)
WIDNES, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Gemma Davison of Liverpool Ladies takes part in the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' after the FAWSL match between Liverpool Ladies and Notts County Ladies at Select Security Stadium on August 24, 2014 in Widnes, England. (Photo by Anna Gowthorpe/The FA via Getty Images)

Doing the Ice Bucket Challenge isn't the same as supporting ALS research, and supporting ALS research isn't always the same as saving lives.

A graphic created by Vox perfectly captures this discrepancy between the causes we donate money to and the diseases that kill us. "You'll notice that large fundraisers can have a pretty significant impact on raising money for causes -- and also that there are big gaps between the diseases that affect the most people and those that net the most money and attention," Julia Belluz wrote for the site.

Of course, there are any number of life-altering illnesses worthy of greater awareness, research and understanding. But as the graphic below shows, the latest ice bucket meme or pinkwashing gimmick isn't always the greatest indicator of which causes most desperately need our attention.


(Click to enlarge.)

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