<p>President Barack Obama won't be taking part in the ice bucket challenge that is sweeping America to raise money and awareness for Lou Gehrig's disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The challenge asks people to post videos of themselves being doused with cold water and publicly call on others to do the same within 24 hours, or donate USD 100 to the ALS Association. It has raised more than USD 40 million.<br /><br />Ethel Kennedy, the 86-year-old Kennedy family matriarch, tagged Obama to participate after recently soaking herself at her family's Massachusetts compound, knowing the president was vacationing nearby. Obama participated financially by donating an undisclosed sum.</p>
<p>President Barack Obama won't be taking part in the ice bucket challenge that is sweeping America to raise money and awareness for Lou Gehrig's disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The challenge asks people to post videos of themselves being doused with cold water and publicly call on others to do the same within 24 hours, or donate USD 100 to the ALS Association. It has raised more than USD 40 million.<br /><br />Ethel Kennedy, the 86-year-old Kennedy family matriarch, tagged Obama to participate after recently soaking herself at her family's Massachusetts compound, knowing the president was vacationing nearby. Obama participated financially by donating an undisclosed sum.</p>