One of the co-founders of the ice bucket challenge, Patrick Quinn, has died aged 37 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neurone disease.
The ALS Association said “Pat fought ALS with positivity and bravery and inspired all around him.” They also said that everyone who knew him is devastated but grateful for all he did to advance the fight against ALS.
“Our thoughts are with the Quinn family and all of his friends and supporters. Pat was loved by many of us within the ALS community and around the world.” The challenge managed to raise more than £150 million worldwide for research into ALS.
Mr Quinn himself was diagnosed with the disease in 2013. In 2014, Quinn saw professional golfer Chris Kennedy, who first dared his wife’s cousin Jeanette Senerchia to take a bucket of ice water, dump it over her head, post a video on social media and ask others to do the same or to make a donation to charity.
Senerchia’s husband had ALS.
Quinn and co-founder Pete Frates, along with their teams of supporters, helped popularise the challenge. The ALS Association said Quinn knew it was the key to raising ALS awareness and calling it the greatest social media campaign in history.
Former Boston College baseball player, Pete Frates died in December 2019 at the age of 34. The organisation added that Quinn continued to raise awareness and funds after popularising the challenge. In 2015, the association honoured him, among others, as “ALS Heroes”. It was an award given to people living with the disease who have had a significant positive impact on the fight against it.
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