Benedict Cumberbatch makes the ice bucket challenge actually seem like a good idea

The ice bucket challenge has raised a lot of money for ALS research — more than the ALS Association raised in all of 2012. But new ice bucket videos, whether from celebrities or in your Facebook feed, are being met with groans at this point. "Can't we just donate without dumping ice on ourselves?" seems to be the common consensus.

But there's one ice bucket challenge video posted today that stands above the rest, and not only because it features a genuine heartthrob. Unlike most takers of the challenge, Benedict Cumberbatch begins his video with a little explanation of what, exactly, ALS is. (Let's be real, not all of your friends posting their own videos know what ALS stands for.)

As Cumberbatch details, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a type of motor neurone disease. Cumberbatch, an ambassador for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, has genuine reason to take the challenge, unlike others hopping on the trend in the name of "charity." And if you're not sure, ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

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At the end of his video, Cumberbatch nominates an interesting mix of celebrities to take the challenge next: Harvey Weinstein, Lewis Hamilton, and, perhaps most oddly, Kylie Minogue. Check out Cumberbatch's video below. --Meghan DeMaria

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