Ice Bucket Challenge co-creator Patrick Quinn dies, aged 37

Quinn helped popularise fundraising video craze, which took hold across the world

A co-founder of the ALS ice bucket social media challenge which raised more than $200m for research has died.

Patrick Quinn, 37, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease shortly after his 30th birthday and died on Sunday, according to the ALS Association.

He first saw the ice bucket challenge in 2014 on the social media of professional golfer Chris Kennedy, who had a family member suffering with ALS.

Quinn and Pete Frates helped popularise the challenge with thousands of people around the world taking part in it.

Frates, a former Boston College baseball player, died in December last year at the age of 34

Celebrities, athletes, politicians and even a pre-White House Donald Trump took part in the ice bucket challenge, videos of which attracted millions of views online.

“Pat fought ALS with positivity and bravery and inspired all around him,” the association said in a statement. 

“Those of us who knew him are devastated but grateful for all he did to advance the fight against ALS.

“It dramatically accelerated the fight against ALS, leading to new research discoveries, expanded care for people living with ALS, and significant investment from the government in ALS research.”

Lou Gehrig’s disease is named after the legendary New York Yankees baseball player who suffered from it.

It is an incurable progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to paralysis caused by the death of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain.

“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,” said Quinn in 2015.

”There are warriors all over the world unwilling to accept it as a death sentence.”