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NEW YORK: Patrick Quinn, whose personal battle with ALS helped fuel the Ice Bucket Challenge fundraising campaign, died on Sunday (November 22) at age 37, seven years after his diagnosis, his supporters announced on Facebook.
Quinn, who was born and raised in Yonkers, New York, co-founded the campaign that raised more than $ 220 million for medical research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to his Facebook page.
He was diagnosed with ALS on March 8, 2013, according to his Facebook page.
“It is with great sadness that we must share Patrick’s passing early this morning,” his supporters said on Facebook.
“We will always remember him for his inspiration and courage in his tireless fight against ALS.”
Condolences to the Quinn family reached social media, with many expressing gratitude for the attention it brought to the disease and the need to find a cure.
The Ice Bucket Challenge went viral on social media in the summer of 2014, when people around the world posted videos and photos of themselves throwing buckets of ice water at their heads and challenging others to do the same while urging them to perform. donations for ALS research.
Filipino residents throw ice cubes on themselves as they participate in the ALS ice cube challenge in Quezon City, Metro Manila, on September 7, 2014 (File Photo: REUTERS / Erik De Castro).
About 12,000 to 15,000 Americans may have ALS, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is believed that between 5% and 10% of ALS cases are inherited, but the cause is unknown and there is no cure.
Among Quinn’s many honors for raising awareness of ALS and promoting research was a nomination along with ALS activist Peter Frates as “Person of the Year” by Time magazine. Frates died last year at age 34, seven years after his diagnosis.
