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Nancy Frates: Why my family started the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The rest is history

Nancy Frates: Why my family started the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The rest is history
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Almost everyone you know knows a thing or two about the Ice Bucket Challenge. The trend that went viral in 2014 was one of the most popular campaigns in history of social media.

Celebrities like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Lebron James, Justin Timberlake, and many others took part of the challenge. The challenge was simple, pour a bucket of water with ice in it over your head, and challenge three friends to do the same. In the meantime, you can donate while doing the challenge. The point was simple, raise awareness about ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

But how did it all start? Everything started with a mother trying to help her child. Nancy Frates is the woman responsible for starting the trend. Her 27 year old son injured his wrist during a baseball game, and the doctor gave them the scary diagnosis: it was ALS.

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For those of you who do not know, ALS causes paralysis and eventually death, there is no cure. But Pete saw an opportunity to raise awareness about the disease. His mother Nancy explains how her family started the challenge that raised more than $13 million in just few months in 2014.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply. Prices as of November 5, 2026 8:21 am GMT+0530.
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