Politics & Government
Watch Governor Chris Christie Get Doused in ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Garden State's leader nominates U.S. Senator, television host and Facebook CEO to take the next challenge.
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Some have called him a cool customer. Others claim he’s a hot head. Either way, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was soaked with ice water this week.
The Garden State’s political leader has jumped into the Ice Bucket Challenge to help spread awareness for ALS, after being nominated by New Jersey Devils player Scott O’Neill.
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Not immune to the national spotlight, Christie stood behind his Mendham Township home Tuesday, arms crossed while he called out three high-profile names to next take the challenge before posting the video to his Facebook account, which has 150,000 followers.
Christie nominated United States Senator and former Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg.
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Then Christie handed the ice-water pouring duties over to his two youngest children, Patrick and Bridget, who dutifully doused their father just as the video came to a close.
The Ice Bucket Challenge has spread like wildfire in recent weeks, as competitors take to social media to nominate friends, family and colleagues.
From former Phoenix Coyote Paul Bissonnette’s epic helicopter soaking to President Barack Obama’s modest decline that still came with a donation, people across the world are working to spread awareness about ALS with the ice bucket challenge. The concept is easy enough: Take a container of ice water, dump it over yourself and nominate someone else to try it next.
Anyone who completes the challenge inside the 24-hour window is asked to make a minimum donation of $15. Those who decline the challenge are asked to make a donation of $100 to the ALS Foundation.
The challenge started when 29-year-old and former captain of the Boston College baseball, Pete Frates, who is also diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, began posting about it on social media. The trend quickly caught on, and soon everyone from athletes to politicians to musicians were taking part.
ALS, known also as Lou Gehrig’s disease, attacks the nerve cells that control voluntarily muscle movement while leaving mental capacity untouched. There is no treatment or cure for the disease, which can take as little as two to five years to claim a life.
The ALS Association has raised $2.3 million since the challenge gained popularity July 29, compared to $25,000 in donations during the same time period last year.
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