Ice Bucket Challenge Cools Off Boston Sports Stars

Pete Frates, of Beverly, created the Ice Bucket Challenge that is now sweeping the nation. The campaign started in Greater Boston, and grew from having immediate success.

The campaign raises money for research of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, ALS is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. The Ice Bucket Challenge is in collaboration with The Pete Frates #3 Fund, the charity created by Frates and his family after his diagnosis in 2012. The #3 represents Frates’ number as former Captain of Boston College baseball. He graduated in 2007.

“Upon my diagnosis, it became abundantly clear that my calling was to raise ALS awareness and to fight for a brighter future for all those affected today and those yet to come,” Frates wrote in his inspiring piece as a guest columnist for Bleacher Report. “I don’t want what has happened to me to happen to those we know and love.”

The Ice Bucket Challenge requires a brave volunteer, who must endure the pouring of ice water on his or her head while being filmed. To assure the campaign continues, the volunteer announces the name of a person he or she wishes to challenge and the chosen individual has 24 hours to accept.

In his video, Frates challenged Bruin Gregory Campbell. After accepting, Campbell dared teammate Brad Marchand, who also completed the task. Since Wednesday, Patriots receiver Julian Edelman, former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek and Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster have taken the Ice Bucket Challenge.

To learn more about The Pete Frates #3 Fund or to make a donation, visit: http://petefrates.com

To read Frates’ Bleacher Report article on living with ALS, head over to: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2109533-my-journey-from-baseball-star-to-als-patient-75-years-after-lou-gehrig

Photo is courtesy of The Pete Frates #3 Fund.