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Patrick Quinn, whose personal battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease helped fuel the Ice Bucket Challenge fundraising campaign, has died at the age of 37, seven years after his diagnosis, according to the ALS Association and its supporters on Facebook.
Quinn, who was born and raised in Yonkers, New York, was a co-founder of the campaign that raised more than $ 220 million for medical research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease name. He was diagnosed with ALS on March 8, 2013.
The ALS Association credited Quinn on Sunday for helping popularize “the greatest social media campaign in history,” adding, “The Ice Bucket Challenge has dramatically accelerated the fight against ALS, leading to new research findings. , expansion of care for people with ALS, and more government investment in ALS research. “
Condolences to the Quinn family poured into social media on Sunday night, with many expressing gratitude for the spotlight it has drawn on the disease and the need for a cure. His supporters said on Facebook, “We will always remember him for his inspiration and courage in his tireless fight against ALS.”
The ALS association
(@alsassociation)(1/4) We are deeply saddened to share that Pat Quinn, co-founder of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has passed away at the age of 37. Pat was diagnosed with ALS in 2013 and went on to help popularize the biggest social media campaign in history. pic.twitter.com/c5PiZHRZbE
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 over their heads and challenge others to do the same while urging donations for ALS research.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 12,000 to 15,000 Americans may have ALS. It is estimated that 5% to 10% of cases of ALS are hereditary, but the cause is unknown and there is no cure.
Among Quinn’s many honors for ALS awareness and research promotion was a nomination along with fellow ALS activist Peter Frates as Person of the Year in Time magazine. Frates died last year at the age of 34, seven years after his diagnosis.
With Reuters
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