ALS Texas

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Newsletter
  • Find Services
  • Understanding ALS
    • ALS Symptoms
    • Stages of ALS
    • What Causes ALS?
    • Lou Gehrig and the History of ALS
    • ALS Glossary
  • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Our Leadership
    • Financial Information
    • Our Partners
    • Careers
  • Research
    • How ALS Patients Can Help
    • Research Resources
    • Research News
    • ALS Association Research
  • Navigating ALS
    • Newly Diagnosed
      • What Do I Do Now?
      • How to Share Your Diagnosis
      • Second Opinions
      • Resources
      • Clinics and Centers
    • Living with ALS
      • For Patients
      • Therapies & Care
        • Nutrition & Feeding Tubes
        • How to Improve Mobility
        • Dealing with Breathing Issues
        • Dealing with Speech & Swallowing Issues
        • Types of Assistive Equipment & Technology
        • Clinics and Centers
      • Living Setting
      • Daily Living Activities
      • Leisure Activities
      • Accessible Vehicles
      • More in Depth Resources/Manuals
    • Coping with ALS
      • Dealing with Anxiety/Depression
      • Changes in Thinking & Emotional Lability
      • Support Groups
      • Resources
    • For Caregivers
      • Caregiver Program
      • Caregiver Resources
      • Practicing Self Care
      • From One Caregiver To Another
    • For Youth & Children
    • Virtual Support Groups & Workshops
      • Past Virtual Event Recordings
    • Resources
      • Healthcare/Insurance
      • Hospice & Palliative Care
      • Finances/Employment
      • Taxes
      • Advance Directives
      • More in Depth Resources/Manuals
      • Register with ALS Texas
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
    • Ways to Donate to ALS Texas
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Workplace Giving
    • Community Giving Programs
  • Advocate
    • Advocacy Day
    • Advocacy News
  • Get Involved
    • Walk to Defeat ALS®
      • Register for a Walk
    • Texas Chapter Events
      • Houston Marathon and Half Marathon
      • All In For ALS Poker Tournament
      • Sporting Clay Shoot
      • Under Ballou Skies Golf Classic and Party
      • ALS Fishing Classic
      • The Cowtown Affair
    • Fundraising Opportunities
    • Calendar of Events
    • Volunteer
    • The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

ALS Hero: Pete Frates

December 9, 2019 by Jacque Amadi 4 Comments

In college Pete Frates was an all-star athlete, becoming the captain of Boston College’s baseball team and hitting a monster home run in Fenway Park in his final year. A few years later, on March 13th 2012, Pete was diagnosed with ALS.

Almost immediately after hearing the diagnosis Pete took the news as a challenge, asking his doctor “how much money do you need to cure this thing?” After hearing “one billion dollars”, Pete’s immediate response was- “I will get you a billion dollars.”

After watching his friends do silly challenges on social media, he and others affected by ALS came up with a simple idea – dumping ice water on yourself and encouraging friends to do the same to raise money for ALS. Although ALS was a relatively unknown disease, Pete had quite the network of friends – including athletes with large social media followings. Soon the Ice Bucket Challenge spread like wildfire. In the weeks and months after, celebrities like Lebron James, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates joined in, all to raise awareness and funds for ALS.

The Ice Bucket Challenge raised a staggering $220 million for ALS nonprofits, putting him well on his way towards raising one billion dollars.

It’s been 7 years since Pete’s diagnosis, and in the years since he’s continued to champion for those with ALS. His family said it best: “He was a beacon of hope for all.”

Pete passed away on December 9, 2019 at the age of 34, but his legacy will live on as a hero for people living with ALS. Thank you Pete and the Frates family for everything you’ve done to progress ALS research and bring us closer to a cure.

Filed Under: Ice Bucket Challenge, Inspiring PALS, Stories Tagged With: alshero

Comments

  1. Rhonda Bolling says

    January 18, 2019 at 3:53 pm

    SO BEAUTIFUL AND INSPIRING!!!! <3 Let's help Team Frates get to A BILLION! I'm in!!!

    Reply
  2. Rosemary Smith says

    January 18, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    My son Randy Smith has ALS. I do not understand why no knows any more about ALA than in the 1930s.

    Reply
  3. Linda says

    July 7, 2019 at 5:30 am

    I was diagnosed with PLS this May 2019 (but who know it may be ALS as I’ve only had symptoms for a year). Finding your site has made me feel that I must try to fight it and raise some money for further research so that there is a cure for this disease -so thanks for inspiring me!! Linda 🙂

    Reply
  4. Maureen Meadows says

    October 16, 2019 at 3:43 pm

    Thank you for your comments to raising awareness in the fight to finding a the cure to ALS🙏

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Find Help

Find Help

Get Involved

ALS Get Involved

Donate

Donate
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Link Policy
  • Contact Us

The ALS Association of Texas | 877.714.0088
All content and works posted on this website are owned and copyrighted by the ALS Association of Texas © 2019


Dallas Office 14555 Dallas Parkway Suite 100-219, Dallas, Texas 75254
San Antonio Office We're working from home! Please send mail to the Dallas office.
Austin Office 2301 W Anderson Lane, Austin, TX, 78757
Houston Office 1213 Hermann Drive, Suite 525, Houston, Texas 77004