Died 37 years – VG

It is with deep sadness that we must announce that Pat Quinn, one of the founders of “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” has died at the age of 37, writes the ALS Association in Twitter.

Patrick Quinn, of Yonker in New York, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on March 8, 2013, one month after his 30th birthday. However, he was determined to get something positive out of the situation and formed the “Quinn for the Win” organization.

– I know the road ahead is hard, but I am willing to give this disease everything I have. Let the fight begin, Quinn said at the time.

The goal of “Quinn for the win” was to generate excitement and fundraise to combat the incurable nerve disease.

– Pat fought ALS with positivity and courage, which inspired everyone around her. Those who knew him are devastated, but also grateful for all he did in the fight against ALS, writes the ALS Association.

“Ice Bucket Challenge”

In 2014 he came across “Ice Bucket Challenge” on social media, and together with “Quinn for the win” supporters and Pete Frates and his “Team Frate Train” organization, they ensured that the campaign gained momentum and reached celebrities like:

Dwayne Johnson, Will Smith, Vin Diesel, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Tiger Woods, Eminem, Rihanna, Usain Bolt, Miley Cyrus, Michael Jordan, Kim Kardashian West, John Travolta, Drake, George W. Bush or Mark Zuckerberg.

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The challenge was simply to pour a bucket of ice water over his head, share a video on social media, and challenge others to do the same or donate money for ALS research.

– No one knew that this would be a global phenomenon, but we came together as a unit because that is what it takes to be able to change a disease like ALS. The challenge gave ALS a solid punch to the jaw and shook it, but that doesn’t mean the fight is over. We have to remove it, Quinn said last year, five years after the viral success.

I have billions

The ALS Association received around one billion crowns as a result of the campaign. In addition, other organizations working with the disease received around NOK 1.2 billion.

– The challenge gained real momentum in the fight against ALS and has led to research results, expansion of care for people with the disease, and increased investments by authorities in ALS research, the organization writes.

But there hasn’t been a breakthrough in the investigation, and from 2014 to 2019, Quinn lost the ability to walk. He had to eat through a tube in his stomach and had to wear an oxygen mask to breathe.

How to treat ALS:

– ALS is terrible, but there are warriors all over the world who refuse to accept that it is a death sentence. We will never give up that fight. It may be hard to believe, but I wouldn’t trade my life for anything else. ALS can take me down as many times as they want, but this stubborn shouldn’t give up. I know a lot of people think the same. Together we can beat ALS, he said during the fifth anniversary of the “Ice Bucket Challenge” last year.