Why Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates took up the Ice Bucket Challenge

Tech execs and celebrities have completely taken to the challenge while President Obama politely declined

A viral challenge of dumping a bucket of ice water over one’s head has taken the internet by storm as it is helping in raising awareness for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also knows as Lou Gehrig's disease.

 

Corporate honchos like Bill Gates, Tim Cook and Mark Zuckerberg have already posted videos of completing the challenge. Other celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake have also posted videos of the same. 

The concept of the challenge is to post the video of the participant pouring a bucket of ice water over themselves  and then challenge another person to either do the same or make a donation of $100 to the national ALS Association, an organization that combats amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

 

By doing or not doing the challenge, one is either raising awareness of the disease or donating  money.   The ALS Association has been overwhelmed by the response and have reported that donations are up by $2.8 million. 

 

While explaining the disease the ALSA's website says " Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed." 

 

Mark Zuckerberg completed the challenge and also challenged Bill Gates to take up the task. 

 

Post by Mark Zuckerberg.

Bill Gates is shown seeing Zuckerberg nominating him for the challenge but says he wants to do it differently.

 

Post by Bill Gates.

While other celebrities have posted simple videos of having completed the task.

 

But there are several who have refused to take up the challenge, preferring to make a donation instead. The Boston Globe reports that Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert Kennedy nominated President Barack Obama to take up the challenge but he has refused. A White House spokesperson told  The Boston Globe  'The President appreciates Mrs. Kennedy thinking of him for the challenge - though his contribution to this effort will be monetary. The President will be making a donation to an ALS charity this week.'

(Video courtesy: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon) 

 

Post by Oprah Winfrey.

 

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