Patrick Quinn

Patrick Quinn (February 10, 1983 – November 22, 2020) was an American amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) activist who helped generate awareness and raise more than US$220 million for medical research through the Ice Bucket Challenge, a viral social media campaign.

Early life Quinn was born on February 10, 1983, in Yonkers, New York, to Rosemary and Patrick Quinn Sr. He went to Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, where he was part of the rugby team. He was diagnosed with the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease (also known as motor neuron disease and in the U.S. as Lou Gehrig's disease) on March 8, 2013, a month after his 30th birthday. Quinn helped draw attention to ALS by co-creating the Ice Bucket Challenge, a video enabled fundraiser, that went viral and helped generate more than $220m for medical research for the disease. The campaign had over 20 million videos being created and shared with celebrities including former President George W. Bush, Bill Gates, Justin Bieber, LeBron James, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lady Gaga, and Oprah Winfrey. Both Quinn and Frates undertook the challenge in support of the Cambridge, MA, based ALS Therapy Development Institute.

Writing in their book, Ice Bucket Challenge: Pete Frates and the Fight Against ALS, authors Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge note that Frates went on to become Quinn's mentor, drawn by his "determination, grit, drive, and passion" and also the kinship from the fact that both were much younger than the average ALS patient.

Quinn continued his advocacy after the challenge through his foundation "Quinn for the Win," to generate awareness of the disease and raise funds for research. He was also nominated along with Frates for TIME Magazine's Person of the Year for his role in raising awareness for the disease and promoting research. Speaking of his specific role, the ALS Association said, "Pat changed the trajectory of the fight against ALS forever. He inspired millions to get involved and care about people who are living with ALS." The union later ended in a divorce.

Quinn died on November 22, 2020, at the St. John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, New York, after suffering from ALS for seven years. He was 37 years old.