Ice bucket Challenge ignites Chinese in creative charity

Chinese actor Andy Lau accepts Ice Bucket Challenge. (Photo/www.dahe.cn)

Pouring a bucket of freezing water on one's head has become the social media trend du jour across much of the US and now, Chinese celebrities want in.

Part of a charity campaign to fight Lou Gehrig's disease, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which began three weeks ago, has seen high-profile figures from former US president George Bush to Apple CEO Tim Cook douse themselves for the cause.

Wanting to get in on the frosty fight, Chinese celebrities have passed the torch, or bucket, with more than 910 million discussion posts on Sina Weibo issuing the ice bucket challenge since Sunday.

"The campaign has raised an unexpected effect," said Bei Xiaochao, director of the social responsibility department of Sina Weibo who helped bring the challenge to China.

Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS), attacks the nervous system and gradually leaves the patients paralyzed.

"It's a fantastic way to publicize the rare disease. Very meaningful!" said Gu Yongqiang, chairman and CEO of Youku.com. and Tudou.com, the country's top two video websites.

Gu responded to the challenge, pouring two pots of ice water over his head during the Tudou Video Festival in Shanghai on Sunday, when the headline of the day on Youku was Bill Gates' ice bath. He later challenged chairman of Alibaba Group Ma Yun.

EXPLOSIVE ACTIONS

The "Ice bucket Challenge", which began spreading on Facebook in the US, went global as scores of prominent figures such as Bill Gates, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Mark Zuckerberg jumped on the charity bandwagon.

Thousands of people worldwide have since recorded the challenge and posted videos online with Australia and New Zealand becoming the second and third most popular countries respectively to join in.

After pouring the ice water, participants then challenge others within their social media network to do the same or avoid doing so by pledging to donate 100 US dollars to the ALS Association. Many have done both.

"We noticed and analyzed the phenomenon, trying to make it more practical for Chinese audiences," said Bei.

He did so by bringing the challenge to Sina Weibo and Wechat.

On Sunday evening, the Sina Weibo and China-Dolls Center for Rare Disorders(CCRD) and Support Association jointly introduced the basic tenets of China's "Ice Bucket Challenge".

"Prepare a bucket of ice water. Speak out of your name and three others whom your are challenging to the camera. Please donate 100 yuan (about 16 US dollars) to CCRD if you cannot fulfill it," the initial proposal read

It instantly caught the attention of a few high-profile internet personalities and began spreading.

"I accepted the challenge from a professor in Taiwan without hesitation. It's a good deed to gain public attentions and donations on the ALS,"said Ji Shisan, founder of science club Scientific Squirrel and popular science website Guokr.com.