Obama declines to take Ice Bucket Challenge, donates to ALS instead

President Barack Obama won’t be taking part in the ice bucket challenge that is sweeping America to raise money and awareness for Lou Gehrig’s disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The challenge asks people to post videos of themselves being doused with cold water and publicly call on others to do the same within 24 hours, or donate $100 to the ALS Association. The viral challenge has raised more than $40 million so far. [caption id=“attachment_1676321” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Obama is not going to be soaking his head anytime soon: AP[/caption] Ethel Kennedy, the 86-year-old Kennedy family matriarch, tagged Obama to participate after recently soaking herself at her family’s Massachusetts compound, knowing the president was vacationing nearby. Obama participated financially by donating an undisclosed sum. Former President George W Bush has participated in the challenge, after being tagged by his daughter, Jenna. Other celebrities who have taken the challenge include Oprah Winfrey, Satya Nadella, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. Associated Press