PM responds to ice bucket challenge

(CS) After being nominated to take part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel responded on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.

If you are hoping to see the Premier pour a bucket of ice-cold water over his head, however, you will be disappointed.

Instead, Bettel posted a picture of the ALS Association donations page, saying that this is more efficient help for the charity, which hopes to develop treatments and a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a motor neuron disease.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge went viral this month, as sports personalities, pop stars and Hollywood celebrities joined the cause started by ALS patient and former Boston College baseball captain Pete Frates to raise awareness for the disease.

Under its rules, each person taking the challenge has to pour a bucket of water over their head, donate 10 USD (or euros) and pass on the challenge to three other people. If you refuse to accept the challenge, the nominees are meant to donate 100 USD. It is not known how much Bettel donated.

Around 21 million USD is thought to have been raised so far for the ALS Association.

The Luxembourg PM was nominated by Sammy Wagner, president of Luxembourg's Young Socialists, who also nominated Chamber president Mars Di Bartolomeo and radio presenter Ben Olinger.

Nominees have 24 hours to respond. Bettel did not pass on the challenge.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to a more local charity, can do so with the French-based Thierry Latran Foundation.