Big bucket needed as Yao accepts challenge

Former NBA star Yao Ming is to take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Saturday at the NBA Yao School in Beijing.

He will pour iced water over himself, and video the act for the school's Weibo account, to raise money for and awareness of ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Earlier this week, NBA China CEO David Shoemaker took the challenge spurred on by a former colleague, Angie Cunningham, who suffers from the disease.

Shoemaker threw down the gauntlet to Yao and all the staff of NBA China. "Yao will need an especially big ice bucket," Shoemaker said.

The ice bucket campaign was launched by the ALS Foundation last month and has been netting an increasing number of celebrities and ordinary members of the public.

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

Those who are challenged but fail to comply are asked to donate US$100 to the foundation. Those who accept the challenge donate US$10, and then challenge others in turn.

NBA shooting guard Kobe Bryant and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt have posted their ice-bucket videos via social media.

Other sports celebrities who have taken up the challenge included Brazil footballer Neymar and basketball star LeBron James. James who then challenged United States President Barack Obama.

Obama was also challenged by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. The president thanked them for the invite but said he would pay the US$100.

Another Chinese celebrity to face the challenge was Lei Jun, founder and chief executive of Xiaomi, a smartphone brand.

Foxconn CEO Terry Gou (Gou Tai-ming) completed the challenge yesterday, and later named Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling and another two people as the next "victims."

Chinese celebrities taking the test included Hong Kong actor and singer Andy Lau, who then challenged classical pianist Lang Lang and Taiwan-based singer/songwriter Jay Chou.