Former college baseball star Pete Frates, from Massachusetts, has passed away at 34 years of age.
Pete was a source of inspiration and motivation for people suffering from all kinds of terminal illnesses. He suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis aka ALS.
It is a neurodegenerative disorder that results in muscle weakness and limits body movement.
Pete helped raise awareness about the disease and also managed to raise $200 million for research on ALS, which, so far, is an incurable disease.
Pete’s death was announced in an emotional statement from his family.
The statement said: “Today Heaven received our angel: Peter Frates. A husband to Julie, a father to Lucy, a son to John and Nancy, a brother to Andrew and Jennifer, Pete passed away surrounded by his loving family, peacefully at age 34, after a heroic battle with ALS.”
Pete launched the ALS Bucket Challenge 5 years ago. The challenge consisted of dumping buckets filled with icy water on your own body and donating to the research for ALS.
The participant then had to share the video online and ask their friends to do the same. The challenge soon went viral and became a major social media sensation.
According to the ALS Association, around 17 million people participated in the challenge, raising a whopping $200 million for ALS research.
“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,” said the deceased’s family in their statement.
“He was a noble fighter who inspired us all to use our talents and strengths in the service of others.”
Pete’s family said he never ranted about his illness and dedicated all his energies to raising awareness about this disorder.
“Instead, he saw it as an opportunity to give hope to other patients and their families. In his lifetime, he was determined to change the trajectory of a disease that had no treatment or cure,” the statement continued.
“As a result, through his determination—along with his faithful supporters, Team Frate Train—he championed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.”
Pete studied at Boston College, graduating in May 2007. During his time at college, he used to be a part of the college’s baseball team.
Five years after his graduation, in 2012, he was offered the position of director of baseball operations for Boston College. The same year, he was diagnosed with ALS. He was 27 at the time.
Pete married his longtime partner Julie eight months after he was diagnosed with ALS. The couple’s only child is a five-year-old girl Lucy.
The ALS Bucket Challenge that he introduced in 2012 was performed by a number of celebrities along with millions of people.
The notable names include Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Will Smith, and Lady Gaga.
ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after a baseball player in whom it was detected in 1930. The earliest mentions of the disorder are as old as 1869.
Pete was honored with the NCAA Inspiration of the Year Award in 2017. But life was not easy for him or his family.
He had to be hospitalized frequently. The cost of keeping him alive reached to $85,000 to $95,000 a month in medical bills, reported CBS.
Pete’s friends, in collaboration with the ALS foundation, started a pilot project to help him cover his medical expense but it wasn’t easy.
In a statement issued after his death, Pete’s college said: “He accepted his illness and devoted the remaining years of his life to raising awareness of ALS and helping to raise money for a cure.
“He is a role model for all BC students and a beloved figure on our campus.”
Replaced!