Former US President takes the ice bucket challenge

The Ice Bucket Challenge has claimed another high-profile victim after former US President George W Bush copped a few litres of freezing water to raise awareness of motor neurone disease.

The former President's has his critics while in office, but it cannot be denied that he rose to the occasion after he and his wife Laura were brought in to the viral challenge by their daughter, Jenna.

In a video posted on YouTube, Mr Bush at first appeared to be taking the easy way out by writing out a cheque to a charity for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), saying it would not be "Presidential" for him to take part.

However, Mrs Bush proceeds to empty a bucket of freezing water over her husband before saying to the camera with a smile: "That cheque is for me. I don't want to ruin my hairstyle."

The Ice Bucket Challenge could soon soak another Presidential head, as Mr Bush passed on the challenge to "(his) friend, Bill Clinton."

"Yesterday was Bill's birthday and my gift to Bill is a bucket of cold water," he said.

Mr Bush finished his video by asking people to visit alsa.org to learn more about the disease.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has taken social media by storm as friends challenge each other to pour a bucket of ice on themselves to raise money and awareness of ALS.

The disease affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to paralysis and death.