Cambridge Academic Stephen Hawking Takes On Ice Bucket Challenge

27 August 2014, 11:14 | Updated: 27 August 2014, 11:23

Cambridge academic Stephen Hawking has become the latest person to join the Ice Bucket trend, and has taken on the challenge, with a twist!

He asked his children to take on the challenge for him, for health reasons.

In the video, Prof Hawking, who has Motor Neurone Disease, says: "I support the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in support of the MNDA, the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

"Because I had pneumonia last year, it would not be wise for me to have a bucket of cold water poured over me. But my children, Robert, Lucy and Tim, gallantly volunteered to take the challenge for me.
 
"I urge you to donate to the MNDA, to eliminate this terrible disease."

Later, Prof Hawking goes on to nominate his own victims including the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Lord Sainsbury, and Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, the university's Vice-Chancellor.