Chinese Health Authorities Echo "Ice Bucket Challenge"

Zhang Quanling takes on the ice bucket challenge

China's national health authorities are showing support for the "ice bucket challenge" to raise funds for the care of patients with rare diseases in the country.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission of China said on its microblog account on Wednesday that it sided with the "ice bucket" campaign and called on the public to donate more, following a nomination by CCTV presenter Zhang Quanling, who also invited her broadcasting company and entertainment program host He Jiong to take part.

Mao Qun'an, spokesperson for the commission said he has donated to the Beijing-based China-Dolls Centre for Rare Disorders, a charity focusing on illnesses such as amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative brain disease.

More than 4,700 people have donated 1.4 million yuan to the charity since the challenge was launched in China earlier this week, according to the Beijing News.

Wang Yiou, head of China-Dolls Centre, said they never thought they could receive funds so quickly. It said the ice bucket campaign raised people's awareness about rare diseases.

"It's difficult for us to raise funds. Although some people joined the [ice bucket] challenge for fun, most people have come to know ALS and other rare disorders."

The ice bucket challenge was introduced by the US-based ALS Association. Read more, please go to gbtimes.