Ice Bucket Challenge: Why are Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Triple H and Justin Timberlake pouring cold water over their heads?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or some place where there’s no internet, you must have heard about the Ice Bucket Challenge. The latest to take up the challenge was Bill Gates, who unlike e

By: Nirmalya Dutta | | Updated: August 16, 2014 12:48 pm

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or some place where there’s no internet, you must have heard about the Ice Bucket Challenge. The latest to take up the challenge was Bill Gates, who unlike everyone else who poured water over their heads, designed an intricate contraption to get the job done for him. And to paraphrase John Lennon, he’s not the only one – everyone from fellow tech genius Mark Zuckerberg, musician Justin Timberlake to WWE legend and current COO Triple H has taken the ice bucket challenge. Also Read - Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: 4 reasons an eco-friendly Ganesha is good for you

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Well the challenge involves pouring a bucket a bucket of cold ice water over their heads to raise awareness and fight ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The challenge is simple, pour ice-cold water over your head and then challenge someone else to do it. The person challenged has to do so within 24 hours or donate $100 to fight ALS. Even if a person completes the challenge, they’re welcome to donate the money.

What is ALS?

ALS is a fatal disease where people lose muscle control, including the ability to speak, eat or even breathe. Life expectancy after being diagnosed is between 2-5 years and current treatment can only extend it by a few months.

How did it start?

The ALS Association credits Pete Frates, a former Boston College baseball player for making the challenge popular. He’s been living with the disease since 2012, and it has become a phenomenon since Frates took the challenge at the end of last month.

So who’s taken it till now?

A lot of famous people have taken the challenge till now including Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Satya Nadella, Phil Schiller, Dick Costolo, Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Christie, Triple H and Martha Stewart. Interestingly, President Obama seems to have declined the challenge and is looking to donate instead.

Has it helped raise awareness?

The ALS Association has already received over $4 million in donations between July 29^th and 12^th August which suggests that people are definitely aware about the condition.

Oh and don’t forget to check out videos of your favourite celebs taking the challenge.

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Published : August 16, 2014 10:15 am | Updated:August 16, 2014 12:48 pm

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