Yao to join in ALS ice bucket challenge

Former NBA star and Chinese icon Yao Ming today announced he would take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on August 23 at the NBA Yao School, according to the school website.

Invited by some of his friends, Yao accepted the challenge - pouring cold water over himself and recording the whole thing - to raise money and awareness for fighting ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

The campaign, launched by the ALS Foundation, has been getting more and more participation from celebrities and other people over the past week. Some have posted their own ice-bucket videos via social media.

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord, causing progressive paralysis. Perhaps its best-known victim is physicist Stephen Hawking.