Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, dumping a bucket of ice-cold water on his head.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, launched on July 29, aims to raise awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called motor neurone disease and Charcot disease, but more popularly known in the United States as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that can also lead to the weakening of the muscles of those affected, eventually causing difficulties in swallowing and breathing.
The ALS Association started the Ice Bucket Challenge as a fundraising campaign, with Zuckerberg joining a long list of big names that have accepted the challenge.
The Ice Bucket Challenge calls for people to either give the ALS Association a donation of $100 or pour a bucket of ice-cold water on their head. The participants of the challenge are then encouraged to pass on the challenge to three other people through social media to be able to raise more donations and awareness for the cause.
From the start of the challenge until Aug. 12, the ALS Association has already raised donations amounting to $4 million.
"We have never seen anything like this in the history of the disease," said ALS Association President and CEO Barbara Newhouse. "We couldn't be more thrilled with the level of compassion, generosity and sense of humor that people are exhibiting as they take part in this impactful viral initiative."
Zuckerberg participated [video] in the campaign after being challenged by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Before dousing himself in ice-cold water, Zuckerberg challenged Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Netflix founder and CEO Reed Hastings to participate in the campaign within 24 hours.
"That was really cold," Zuckerberg simply said after pouring the bucket of ice-cold water over his head.
Other celebrities and public icons that have participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge include Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, Ansel Elgort, Victor Cruz, Matt Laurer and Martha Stewart.
Ethel Kennedy, the 86-year-old widow of Robert Kennedy, also participated in the campaign, then nominating President Barack Obama to do the challenge. However, it seems that President Obama will not be pouring ice-cold water over his head and will instead be forwarding a donation to the ALS Association.
The most epic participation in the campaign has so far been done by Paul Bissonnette of the National Hockey League, who had gallons of glacier water poured over him from a hovering helicopter.
