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THE CO-FOUNDER of the viral “ice cube challenge”, which has raised more than $ 200 million (168.5 million euros) worldwide for research into motor neuron diseases, has died 37 years.
Pat Quinn was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the US, in 2013, one month after his 30th birthday.
In 2014, Quinn saw the ice bucket challenge on social media from professional golfer Chris Kennedy, who first challenged his wife’s cousin, Jeanette Senerchia, to grab a bucket of ice water, throw it on 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 the disease.
Quinn and co-founder Pete Frates, along with their teams of supporters, helped popularize the challenge.
The ALS Association said Quinn “knew it was the key to raising awareness of ALS,” calling it “the largest social media campaign ever.”
Frates, a former Boston College baseball player, died in December 2019 at the age of 34.
When the two accepted the challenge, the phenomenon exploded, the organization said. Thousands of people participated in the viral trend, including celebrities, sports stars, and politicians, including Donald Trump before his election and the cartoon character Homer Simpson.
Online videos of the challenge were viewed millions of times.
Jockey Frankie Dettori and TV host Clare Balding take part in the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge
Source: Anna Gowthorpe via PA Images
The ALS association said: “Pat fought ALS with positivity and courage and inspired everyone around her.
Those of us who knew him are devastated but grateful for all he did to advance the fight against ALS. Our thoughts go out to the Quinn family and all of their friends and supporters. Many of us love Pat within the ALS community and around the world.
“It dramatically accelerated the fight against ALS, leading to new research discoveries, increased care for people living with ALS, and significant government investment in ALS research.
Motor neuron disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to paralysis due to the death of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain. There is no known cure.
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In the United States it was called Lou Gehrig’s disease, in honor of the great New York Yankees baseball who also suffered from it.
The organization added that Quinn continued to raise awareness and funds after popularizing the challenge.
In 2015, the association honored him, among others, as ALS Heroes, an award given to people living with the disease who have had a significant positive impact in the fight against it.
On the fifth anniversary of the challenge, Quinn, who was from Yonkers, New York, addressed a crowd in Boston.
“No one knew that the ice cube challenge would become a global phenomenon, but we came together because that is what it takes to change a disease like ALS,” he said.
“There are warriors all over the world who are unwilling to accept it as a death sentence.
“We will never stop fighting together. I will not leave this Earth until I know that the next person diagnosed with ALS has a real plan for living with this disease, not just dying from it. “
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