Several people have been seen doing the Ice Bucket Challenge on several social media sites. From Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to viral videos on YouTube, ordinary people and celebrities alike are slowly following suit.

But what exactly is the Ice Bucket Challenge?

The challenge first started when Boston College baseball player Pete Frates started the act of dumping bucket loads of ice (and ice-cold water) on his head. He then challenged his friends to do it, and the rest they say was history.

The act was not done out of selfish interest or to gain popularity. The Ice Bucket Challenge was created to help spread awareness on the disease called ALS and to help the National ALS Association raise funds.

And now with other people joining in the fun, more and more people are getting "tagged" to do the challenge next.

Consequently, the challenge has already reached the White House.

US President Barack Obama was just recently challenged by Ethel Kennedy to do the challenge. Kennedy has successfully performed the challenge beforehand.

But the Ice Bucket Challenge is just not Obama's cup of tea. The US President politely declined and said that he will be donating cash instead.

"The President appreciates Mrs. Kennedy thinking of him for the challenge - though his contribution to this effort will be monetary," said White House spokesperson Eric Shutlz. Obama has promised to make a donation to an ALS charity this week.

Since the Ice Bucket Challenge started in July, the national ALS Association has already received a total of $2.3 million of cash donations.