Peruvian-born photographer Mario Testino joined on Tuesday the Ice Bucket Challenge, an online craze which aims to raise money for research into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that causes people to lose muscle function.
Testino, initially challenged by Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, posted a video to his Instagram account in which he got a bucket of ice water poured on him. He then nominated David Beckham, Kate Mosss and Donatella Versace to follow suit.
The challenge is getting a bucket of ice water poured over your head, then posting video of the ceremony on social media and extending the challenge to somebody else.
Once challenged, a person can either accept the challenge and get soaked within 24 hours, or donate $100 to ALS research. Some have done both.
The Ice Bucket Challenge, although originating at the end of last year, gained popularity when American golfer Chris Kennedy was nominated by a friend to do the challenge.
He then nominated his cousin to do the same in order to support her husband, who has had ALS for 11 years.
Since then, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has swelled into a global phenomenon, with dozens of stars getting wet; Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, James Franco, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez and Jon Bon Jovi.
Other well-known figures like Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates of Microsoft fame took it last week.
ALS, affects approximately 450,000 people worldwide. The condition progressively shuts down the body’s use of muscles, ending in the effective immobility of whose afflicted with it, as they often lose the use of their legs and arms.
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Published: 8/21/2014