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Patrick Quinn, who co-founded the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge viral virus after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, died Sunday at the age of 37.
“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.”
Quinn was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, in 2013, shortly after her 30th birthday. The disease is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the New York Yankees who have been diagnosed with it.
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In 2014, Quinn saw professional golfer Chris Kennedy dare his wife’s cousin, Jeanette Senerchia, throw a bucket of ice water over her head, and post a video on social media calling on others to do the same or to do the same. donation to charity. Her husband had ALS.
This prompted Quinn and co-founder Pete Frates, a former Boston College baseball player, to take this challenge to greater heights to raise awareness about the disease. This viral phenomenon, called “the biggest social media campaign in history” by the ALS Association, has raised more than $ 220 million for research.
Frates died in December 2019 at the age of 34, seven years after his diagnosis.
Read more: Ice Bucket Challenge for a good cause
“No one knew the Ice Bucket Challenge would become a global phenomenon, but we came together because it’s what it takes to change a disease like ALS,” Quinn said on the occasion of the challenge’s fifth anniversary.
“There are warriors all over the world who don’t want 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 to live with this disease, not die of it. “
see / sms (AP, Reuters)
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