WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Members of Congress and politicians around the country joined in the viral video trend of dumping buckets of ice over their head to raise ALS awareness.
Reps. Joe Kennedy, D-Mass., Martha Roby, R-Ala., Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., David Cicilline, D-R.I., Rodney Davis, R-Ill., Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., all got dunked. Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., Jack Reed, D-R.I., and former Sen. Scott Brown, R-N.H., all participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge. Republican Govs. Bobby Jindal and Chris Christie also got chilly at their respective homes in Louisiana and New Jersey.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, took it to the next level by jumping into the cold Alaskan waters, which according to NOAA, range from the low 40s to high 50s this time of year. Murkowski, who has been an advocate of the cause for years, challenged all of her colleagues in the U.S. Senate to take the challenge.
President Barack Obama was challenged by Ethel Kennedy, 86, the widow of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who dumped water over her head for the cause. The president declined, but promised he would make a direct donation to an ALS charity.
"The president appreciates Mrs. Kennedy thinking of him for the challenge -- though his contribution to this effort will be monetary," the White House told the Boston Globe. "The president will be making a donation to an ALS charity this week."
