Remembering how the ice bucket challenge in 2014 really made a splash
2014 Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh doing the ice bucket challenge in the Tralee Town Park fountain. Picture: Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD
The co-founder of the viral “ice bucket challenge”, which has raised more than €168 million worldwide for research into motor neurone disease, has died at the age of 37.
Pat Quinn was diagnosed with motor neurone disease – known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the US – in 2013, a month after his 30th birthday.
In 2014, Mr Quinn saw the ice bucket challenge on the social media feed of professional golfer Chris Kennedy, who first dared his wife’s cousin Jeanette Senerchia to take a bucket of ice water, dump it over her head, post a video on social media and ask others to do the same or to make a donation to charity. Ms Senerchia’s husband had the disease.
Mr Quinn and co-founder Pete Frates, along with their teams of supporters, helped popularise the ice bucket challenge in 2014, which asked those challenged to take a bucket of ice water, dump it over their head, post a video on social media and ask others to do the same and make a donation to charity.
Many Irish people embraced the challenge in 2014, with ordinary families and celebrities alike undergoing a dunking in the name of charity. Ice cube sales soared and so too did donations to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA). The Ice Bucket Challenge raised over €1.7 million in Ireland alone. IMNDA paid tribute to Mr Quinn for the incredible difference he made.
“We will be eternally grateful to Patrick Quinn, and all who participated in this phenomenon. He changed the course of history for this underfunded disease and his legacy will continue to support hundreds of people living with MND in Ireland.”
Here are some of the videos that we loved from that summer.
...which nominated...
...who nominated…
...who shared her experience with Olivan Callanan, who was nominated by…
...who was challenged by…
...who nominated...
...who challenged…
Meanwhile on live TV…
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...the Rose of Tralee host nominated…
...and while we’re in Kerry…
Other Irish celebrities who took part include:
Here’s my feckin ice bucket challenge. Spoiler Alert - I’m not alone! Thanks @hotpatooties &…#ALSIceBucketChallenge http://t.co/FPY7vmGq4H
— chris o'dowd (@BigBoyler) August 27, 2014
He used the challenge as an opportunity to announce he and wife Dawn O’Porter were expecting a baby.
