Patrick Quinn, Creator of Viral Ice Bucket Challenge Dies at 37 After Years of Battle With ALS, Condolences Pour In On Social Media

A co-founder of the social media ALS ice bucket challenge, Patrick Quinn has passed away at 37. He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, on March 8, 2013, a month after his 30th birthday. His personal fight with ALS helped raise more than $220 million for medical research into sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Meanwhile, condolences to the Quinn family are pouring in on social media. People expressed gratitude to him for the attention he drew to the disease and the need to find a cure. Dog's Self-Control Challenge Goes Viral, Canine Eats Treat And Keeps Another One on Table, Twitterati Believe It's Trained (Watch Funny Video)

The Ice Bucket Challenge had gone viral on social media platforms in summer 2014. He took the internet posting videos and photos of drenching themselves in buckets of ice water on their hands and challenging others to do the same and encouraging people to make donations for ALS research. Celebrities, sports personalities and even politicians undertook the challenge making it even more popular on social media. Couple Challenge Takes Over Social Media: Singles React With Funny Memes and Jokes as People Post Pictures With Their Partners.

Condolences Pour In On Twitter:

Rest in Peace, Pat:

Read ALS' Statement on Pat's Death:

We Pray Strenght For the Family:

Indeed Saddening!

Quinn and co-founder Pete Frates, along with their teams of supporters, helped popularise the challenge on social media. In 2015, the association honoured him, among others, as ALS Heroes. They were given an award for having a significant positive impact on the fight against it. Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to paralysis due to the death of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain. There is no known cure for it until now.

Announcing Patrick's death, ALS Association said, "Pat fought ALS with positivity and bravery and inspired all around him." The statement further reads, "Those of us who knew him are devastated but grateful for all he did to advance the fight against ALS. Our thoughts are with the Quinn family and all of his friends and supporters. Pat was loved by many of us within the ALS community and around the world."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 23, 2020 03:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).