The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Official Youtube posted a video of Professor Stephen Hawkings doing the ALS Bucket Challenge.
Hawkings, who is a cosmologist and an English theoretical physicist is known for his (collaborative) works in General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, has been diagnosed with ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) at age 21.
Last August 26, 2014, the 72-year old, nearly totally-paralyzed professor accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. However, having said that it would not be "wise for him to have a bucket of cold water poured over" as he caught pneumonia last year, his children - Robert, Lucy and Tim took on the challenge for him.
In the video, Hawkings urged people to donate for the cause to the Motor Neurone Disease Association in order to help put an end to the disease.
The MNDA funds and provides global support for research not only for ALS but for motor neurone diseases in general as well. On top of efforts in research, funds donated to the association are also put in action in order to support people who are affected with such diseases.
According to the MNDA website, motor neurone disease symptoms include muscle weakness due to spasm which is accompanied by rapid atrophy. Patients also exhibit difficulty in speech, swallowing and even breathing. In the US alone, about 6,000 cases are diagnosed each year which is added to an existing 30,000 cases.
The ALS Ice Bucket challenge has undeniably garnered so much buzz in social media since it started in June 30, 2014. Big names in the international scene including Hollywood celebrities, athletes, politicians and even the most prominent business people took the challenge.
With every bucket-full of ice awareness is spread about the neuro-degenerative disease and funds are being added to fund the research for its cure.
As of writing, the ALS Association has raised up to $95 million.