The so-called Ice Bucket
Challenge for ALS research extended further into the animal
kingdom on Tuesday after the parrot Amore known for being
blessed by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square in February
nominated Dudù, the dog owned by ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi
and his partner Francesca Pascale, to take up the gauntlet in
its wake.
In a video the yellow-green parrot owned by former male
stripper Francesco Lombardi could be seen having a bucket of
crushed ice poured over its head as a voice off-screen invited
the white maltese terrier to join the campaign to find a cure
for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
The campaign that began in the United States has been
gaining ground in Italy in recent weeks with participation by
Italian entertainers and politicians.
On Friday Premier Matteo Renzi took the challenge and
nominated retired football star Roberto Baggio, who helped raise
funds for fellow player and ALS victim Stefano Borgonovo,
school friend Paolo Livoli, a doctor who works with ALS
sufferers, and the editors-in-chief of every news outlet in
Italy, to do the same.
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