RELATED: Bendigo mayor chills out
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CITY of Greater Bendigo Mayor Barry Lyons, Cr Mark Weragoda and chief executive Craig Niemann were the latest culprits to undergo the Ice Bucket Challenge.
The trio were soaked in icy water on Tuesday afternoon to raise awareness for motor neurone disease.
Mr Niemann said learning about the disease through high-profile sufferers such as former footballer and Melbourne coach Neale Daniher inspired him to embrace the challenge.
"It's more about raising awareness for me," Mr Niemann said.
"The fact I was asked to do the challenge meant I read up on it.
There are people in our community who have this disease.
- Craig Niemann
"(Doctors) don't know why it starts or have a cure for it.
"(Patients) slowly deteriorate and their system ultimately shuts down."
He said the challenge was a way of letting people battling the disease know others were thinking of them.
"There are people in our community who have this disease ... we want to advocate for them," he said.
He said one man who had the disease had contacted him to thank him for participating.
"It was worth it just for that," he said.
He said the city wasn't raising money for Motor Neurone Disease Victoria but individuals may be inspired to donate by the high-profile bucket campaign.
"It's up to individuals to make a contribution and that's a personal choice people will make," he said.
Tuesday's event came after other high-profile community leaders also embraced the icy challenge.
Last week, Catholic College Bendigo principal Michael Chalkely completed the activity after being nominated by Star FM host Alex Dearaugo.
Mr Chalkley said the challenge was about creating awareness for a disease that didn't have much publicity.
"If the sufferers of motor neurone know we're thinking of them than that helps," he said.
Other Bendigo people to take part in the challenge include Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters and Bendigo Bank staff members.