Celebrities from Bill Gates to Jimmy Fallon to Justin Timberlake have dumped buckets of ice of themselves as a campaign to raise awareness for ALS goes viral. How much has the campaign actually raised? ALS Association chief chapter relations officer Lance Slaughter joins Lunch Break with Tanya Rivero. (Photo: AP)

COREY Griffin, 27, the co-founder of the Ice Bucket Challenge has tragically drowned.

The Boston Globe reports that Griffin had just attended a fundraiser for ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease on Friday at which he helped raise $US100,000 in honour of his friend Pete Frates, whose struggle with the disease helped turn the Ice Bucket Challenge into a viral craze.

At about 2am he dove off a building at Straight Wharf in Nantucket before floating to the surface and then sinking without a trace.

Off-duty Nantucket lifeguard Colin Perry managed to recover Griffin from the bottom of the harbour and he was taken to Nantucket Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3am.

Griffin’s father, Robert Griffin, told the Boston Globe that his son was tortured by his friend Mr Frates’s ordeal with the incurable neurodegenerative disease and vowed to help.

“He was so happy to be able to help him,” Mr Griffin said.

GEORGE BUSH COMPLETES THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE

Mr Frates has also released a statement at the loss of his friend.

“Team FrateTrain lost a good friend today, Corey Griffin. Helping out was nothing new for Griff. He held his own event for me back in 2012, just a few months after diagnosis. He worked his butt off these last few weeks for ALS. We texted everyday, planning and scheming ways to raise funds and plan events,” Pete posted on his Facebook page.

Griffin had worked for Bain Capital and recently moved to New York City to work for a finance company called RANE.

Anthony Aiello, 28, Griffin’s best friend since childhood said he was very family orientated and that his death has devastated his brother Michael, 25, and sister, Casey, 23, who both looked up to him.

“I just can’t stress enough that he was the greatest best friend, brother, and son anyone could ask for,” Mr Aiello said. “He lived life to the fullest and everybody loved him. And every time he walked into a room, he put a smile on everybody’s face.”

He certainly has mobilised a lot of celebrities to not only complete the challenge but to donated money with the ALS association saying it had received $US22.9 million ($24.78 million) in donations compared to $US1.9 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 19).

NO COLD SHOWER FOR ABBOTT

Tony Abbott isn’t keen to cop a cold shower.

The Prime Minister today said he would be happy to donate to the ice bucket challenge cause, but not have one dumped on his head.

That’s despite his own Parliamentary Secretary Josh Frydenberg, who took up the challenge, nominating Mr Abbott to be doused by a bucket of ice.

“Look, it’s a very good cause, super cause,” the PM told reporters in Melbourne today.

“I’ll be meeting with people who are supporting this cause later on.”

But he wasn’t encouraged to go all the way.

“I’ve got to say that I’d probably rather make a modest financial contribution than submit myself to a shower of ice, but it is a great cause and I’m happy to be helpful.”