Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Stephen Hawking, MND sufferer, does ice bucket challenge with a twist

The eminent professor suffered a bout of pneumonia last year, so couldn't have the water poured on him

Natasha Culzac
Friday 29 August 2014 10:06 BST
Comments
Stephen Hawking has done the ice bucket challenge
Stephen Hawking has done the ice bucket challenge (YouTube.MDN Association)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

So far, the ice bucket challenge has raised over £3million for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), and now Stephen Hawking, a well-known sufferer, has completed the dare – with a twist.

The prominent physicist, who had a bout of pneumonia last year, said "it would not be wise for me to have a bucket of cold water pour over me… but my children Robert, Lucy and Tim gallantly volunteered to take the challenge for me."

He then urged everyone to donate to the MNDA to "eliminate this terrible disease".

In the family’s driveway, his offspring took on the challenge before Hawking, 72, nominated the Director of the Science Musem, Ian Blatchford and the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University - Lord Sainsbury and Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz.

MNDA is the British equivalent of the ALS Association in the US, which has so far received $95million in donations since the viral and organic ice bucket challenge took off at the end of the last month.

Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21 and had been given just two years to live.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in