Ice Bucket Challenge: Pete Frates and the Fight Against ALS

Last updated
Ice Bucket Challenge: Pete Frates and the Fight Against ALS
Ice Bucket Challenge.jpg
Author Casey Sherman, Dave Wedge
LanguageEnglish
GenreNon-fiction
Publisher ForeEdge
Publication date
2017
Publication place United States

Ice Bucket Challenge: Pete Frates and the Fight Against ALS is a non-fiction book by New York Times bestselling author Casey Sherman and author/journalist Dave Wedge that was published in 2017 by ForeEdge, a division of University Press of New England. [1] The book tells the story of Pete Frates, a Boston College baseball player who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2011, who helped launch the Ice Bucket Challenge viral sensation. The online craze went viral in 2014 and raised $225 million for ALS research, as celebrities, professional athletes and millions of people dumped buckets of icy water over their heads on video to raise money for research.

The book, which tells Frates's life story and describes how he helped launch the Ice Bucket Challenge, was released on September 4, 2017, with a celebration at Boston City Hall led by Mayor Marty Walsh. [2] An official book launch gala in Frates's honor was held at Fenway Park with Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz, Mayor Walsh, comedian Lenny Clarke, retired Boston Bruins star Ray Bourque and other celebrities. [3]

A film based on the book is in development with Wedge and Sherman as co-producers. [4]

Related Research Articles

Viral marketing is a business strategy that uses existing social networks to promote a product mainly on various social media platforms. Its name refers to how consumers spread information about a product with other people, much in the same way that a virus spreads from one person to another. It can be delivered by word of mouth, or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet and mobile networks.

Linsey Godfrey is an American actress. She played Caroline Spencer on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful from March 2012 to October 2016, before returning in a recurring capacity from December 2016 to March 2018. She played Sarah Horton on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives from July 2018 to March 2021 before returning in January 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Wedge</span>

David M. Wedge is a New York Times-bestselling author, journalist, podcast host and award-winning former reporter for the Boston Herald.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ALS Therapy Development Institute</span>

The ALS Therapy Development Institute is a non-profit biotechnology research organization focused on finding treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). With a staff including more than 30 scientists, it operates a research and development program centered on ALS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ALS Association</span>

The ALS Association is an American nonprofit organization that funds global amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, provides care services and programs to people affected by ALS through its nationwide network of clinical care centers, and works with ALS advocates around the country for state and federal policies that serve people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Sherman</span> American author

Casey Sherman is an American author, journalist and screenwriter most famous for his 2009 book The Finest Hours, which was adapted into the Disney Studios 2016 film of the same name, and Boston Strong, which was adapted into the 2016 film Patriots Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrie Keagan</span> American TV personality, actress, and writer

Carrie Keagan is an American television personality, actress, writer, and producer, known as the host of Up Close with Carrie Keagan, Big Morning Buzz Live on VH1 and for her appearances as a panelist on Fox News Channel's Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld, the E! talk show Chelsea Lately, Vh1 Classic's Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp and her numerous hosting duties for E!, VH1 and G4's Attack of the Show!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marty Walsh</span> American politician and trade unionist (born 1967)

Martin Joseph Walsh is an American politician and trade union official who served as the mayor of Boston from 2014 to 2021 and as the 29th United States Secretary of Labor from 2021 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Walsh resigned from his position as the US Secretary of Labor in March 2023 in order to accept a position as executive director of the National Hockey League Players' Association. Before his mayoralty, he served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 13th Suffolk district from 1997 until 2014. As a trade union member, Walsh worked his way up to serve as the head of the Boston Building Trades Council from 2011 until 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hashtag activism</span> Use of hashtags for internet activism

Hashtag activism refers to the use of social media hashtags for Internet activism. The hashtag has become one of the many ways that social media contributes to civic engagement and social movements. The use of the hashtag on social media provides users with an opportunity to share information and opinions about social issues in a way that others (followers) can interact and engage as part of a larger conversation with the potential to create change. The hashtag itself consists of a word or phrase that is connected to a social or political issue, and fosters a place where discourse can occur. Social media provides an important platform for historically marginalized populations. Through the use of hashtags these groups are able to communicate, mobilize, and advocate for issues less visible to the mainstream.

Jérôme Jarre is a French entrepreneur, creator and humanitarian. He is best known for being a Vine and Snapchat celebrity. As of June 2014, he was the fourth most followed individual on Vine. That same month he became one of the first Snapchat celebrities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice Bucket Challenge</span> 2014 viral internet meme and fundraiser

The Ice Bucket Challenge, sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, was an activity involving the pouring of a bucket of ice water over a person's head, either by another person or self-administered, to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and encourage donations to research. The challenge was co-founded by Pat Quinn and Pete Frates; it went viral on social media during July–August 2014. In the United States, many people participated for the ALS Association, and in the United Kingdom, many people participated for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, although some individuals opted to donate their money from the Ice Bucket Challenge to other organizations.

Thomas Poon is the Executive Vice President and Provost of the Loyola Marymount University and professor of chemistry. He served as Acting President of Pitzer College in 2014 and Interim President from July 2015 to July 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">22 Pushup Challenge</span> Activity promoting veteran suicide prevention

The 22 Pushup Challenge, sometimes called the 22KILL Pushup Challenge, was an activity involving pressing out twenty-two pushups to promote awareness for veteran suicide prevention along with honoring military service members and veterans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Boston mayoral election</span>

The Boston mayoral election of 2017 was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, to elect the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. Incumbent Democratic mayor Marty J. Walsh won re-election to a second term, defeating District 7 City Councilor Tito Jackson, and two long-shot candidates, Robert Cappucci and Joseph Wiley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manju Latha Kalanidhi</span> Indian journalist

Manju Latha Kalanidhi is an Indian journalist, feature writer, columnist and creator of Rice Bucket Challenge. She is currently the City Editor at The New Indian Express in Hyderabad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run for Heroes</span> UK non-profit organisation

Run for Heroes was born in March 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 28, 2020 they launched the #Run5Donate5Nominate5 campaign which raised over £7 million for NHS Charities Together COVID-19 Appeal.

Patrick Quinn 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.

Internet challenges are a popular phenomenon on the Internet, encompassing a wide range of videos in which individuals record themselves performing specific actions or tasks, often daring others to do the same. These challenges have become a significant part of Internet meme culture, with many of them gaining widespread attention and popularity through memes. Notable examples of such challenges include the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, which gained viral status in mid-2014, and the TrashTag Challenge, which became popular in 2019.

Peter Frates was an American college baseball player for the Boston College Eagles and an activist for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He is credited with helping the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge gain national attention, which raised approximately $220 million for ALS research.

References

  1. "The Ice Bucket Challenge". University Press of New England . Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  2. Meyers, Alyssa (5 September 2017). "City salutes Pete Frates as inspiration". The Boston Globe . Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  3. Williams, Matt (18 September 2017). "'It's a Love Story': Frates, family celebrate book launch about Ice Bucket Challenge". Salem News. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  4. "'Boston Strong' author looks forward to ITVFest". The Manchester Journal . Retrieved 12 May 2019.