News Delhi: Since Satya Nadella became Microsoft’s third CEO in February, a lot of things are learnt about him every day. He writes long memos, quotes poetry, and doesn’t like to talk about the Nokia acquisition. Nadella is helping raise money to help fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and recently took the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ for charity.
The video, which is posted on YouTube, shows Nadella taking the ice bucket challenge which the company describes as: “a social media movement wherein people post videos of themselves dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads. Once they’re sopping wet with cold water, they then challenge others to either do the same or make a donation to an organization dedicated to fighting ALS, and that’s just what Nadella did,†the Verge reported.
Nadella was challenged to do this on Twitter by former NFL player Steve Gleason, which just goes to show that people will do pretty much anything if you tweet at them. The Ice Bucket Challenge is sweeping through the NHL as players, coaches, general managers and even some team presidents and owners have joined the campaign to raise awareness for ALS.
Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Patrick Kane and Tyler Seguin are among the dozens of hockey stars who have posted online videos where they are dousing themselves in ice-cold water to get people talking about the neurodegenerative disorder more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“This has been great to create awareness of something that I’m sure a lot of people, including myself, didn’t really know much about,†Boston Bruins forward Gregory Campbell said. “I think it’s been wonderful that the hockey community has really embraced it.â€
In less than two weeks, the Ice Bucket Challenge has transcended sports and spread into politics and pop culture, along the way raising millions of dollars for various organizations.
The viral phenomenon traces its origins to University of Arizona women’s basketball coach Niya Butts, who made the Cold Water Challenge popular earlier this summer in hopes of raising awareness and money for breast cancer research. Then former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates heard about the idea from fellow ALS patient Patrick Quinn and got his friends and family involved.
Part of what has made the Ice Bucket Challenge explode is the daring element of it: anyone challenged has 24 hours to do the same and pass it on.