Ice bucket challenge co-founder dies at 37

Patrick Quinn, who co-founded the viral ALS ice bucket challenge after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, died on Sunday at the age of 37. 

"It is with great sadness that we must share the passing of Patrick 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 soon after his 30th birthday. The disease is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, after the New York Yankees great who was diagnosed with it.

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In 2014, Quinn saw professional golfer Chris Kennedy daring his wife's cousin, Jeanette Senerchia, to dump a bucket of ice water over her head and post a video on social media calling on others to do the same or donate 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, referred to as "the greatest social media campaign in history" by the ALS Association, raised more than $220 million for research.

Frates died in December 2019 at the age of 34, seven years after his diagnosis.

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"Nobody knew the ice bucket challenge would become a worldwide phenomenon, but we united as one because that is what it takes to change a disease like ALS," Quinn said on the fifth anniversary of the challenge in 2019.

"There are warriors all over the world unwilling to accept it as a death sentence. We will never stop fighting together. I will not leave this Earth until I know the next person diagnosed with ALS has a real plan to live with this disease, not just die from it," he said.

see/sms (AP, Reuters)