Patrick Quinn, the co-creator of the Ice Bucket Challenge, has died at the age of 37.
- Quinn was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease seven years ago.
- ALS is a type of motor neurone disease that weakens the muscles in the body.
- Alongside Pete Frates, Patrick Quinn co-created the viral Ice Bucket Challenge.
Quinn’s battle with ALS inspired millions of people.
Seven years ago on 8 March 2013, Patrick Quinn was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a type of motor neurone disease that weakens the muscles in the body. To raise awareness and money for the fight against this deadly disease, Patrick Quinn and Pete Frates co-created the Ice Bucket Challenge which went viral in the summer of 2014. According to Lad Bible, although ‘Frates was largely seen as the face of the Ice Bucket Challenge campaign […] it was Quinn who noticed online challenges were a great way of driving awareness for an issue.’ The trend saw millions of people from all over the world spill freezing cold water over their heads to raise money and awareness for ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Through this campaign, the co-creators successfully raised over $220 million which were put towards research for the disease.
On Facebook, a post published on the Quinn for the Win page stated:
It is with great sadness that we must share the passing of Patrick early this morning. He was a blessing to us all in so many ways. We will always remember him for his inspiration and courage in his tireless fight against ALS.
Similarly, the ALS association shared the tragic news on Twitter:
(1/4) We are deeply saddened to share that Pat Quinn, co-founder of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge passed away at the age of 37. Pat was diagnosed with ALS in 2013 and went on to help popularize the greatest social media campaign in history. pic.twitter.com/c5PiZHRZbE
— The ALS Association (@alsassociation) November 22, 2020
Last year, Pete Frates passed away at just 34 years of age.
Frates had been fighting ALS since he was diagnosed in 2012. According to BBC, the Frates family released a statement and explained how much of an impact Frates had made in the ALS community. “Pete was an inspiration to so many people around the world who drew strength from his courage and resiliency,” they said. “A natural born leader and the ultimate teammate, Pete was a role model for all, especially young athletes, who looked up to him for his bravery and unwavering positive spirit in the face of adversity.”
Around 12,000-15,000 Americans may have ALS and an estimated 5-10% of all cases are believed to be hereditary, reported the Guardian. What causes ALS remains unknown and a cure has not yet been found.
