The former Boston College baseball star whose battle with ALS helped to inspire the Ice Bucket Challenge viral fundraiser that dominated the internet in August of 2014 has died at the age of 34.
Pete Frates played for the Eagles from 2004 to 2007 and was named director of baseball operations at his alma mater in 2012, the same year he was diagnosed with ALS at age 27. Two years after his diagnosis, Frates was able to raise millions of dollars for ALS research by inspiring people around the world to dump buckets of ice water over their heads (and donate money in the process).
In 2014 alone, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge raised more than $220 million.
The Frates family announced Pete’s passing with a statement that was released on Boston College’s website.
“Pete never complained about his illness,” the statement read in part. “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. As a result, through his determination—along with his faithful supporters, Team Frate Train—he championed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.”
The family asked that those who would like to extend an expression of sympathy to consider making a donation to the Peter Frates Family Foundation online.
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