GLOUCESTER, Mass. — An estimated 3,000 people came together at Good Harbor Beach on Saturday as more than 500 of them plunged into the cold ocean water one last time for Pete Frates.
“He was here all day, he’s smiling down,” said Pete’s mother, Nancy Frates.
Pete was a former Boston College baseball player who grew up in Beverly. He was diagnosed with ALS when he was 27 years old and inspired the ice bucket challenge in 2014, which raised more than $220 million for ALS research. He passed away after a hard-fought battle on Dec. 9.
The eighth and final “Plunge 4 Pete” happened on what would have been Pete’s 35th birthday. The annual plunge started in 2012 as a way to raise awareness for ALS and help Pete’s family pay for their medical bills.
Saturday’s plunge beat its 2014 record when 250 people participated -- the year that the ice bucket challenge went viral.
Pete’s wife Julie plunged for the first and final time in honor of her husband. In years past, she would usually ride in the car with Pete and walk beside his chair as they traveled over the bridge at Good Harbor Beach, she wrote in a Facebook post two weeks ago when she announced that she’d take the plunge.
“Feels great, love you Pete,” Julie said with a beaming smile as she walked out of the ocean after plunging. She wore Pete’s favorite red, white, and blue bikini, the one she had on when they met on July 4, 2011.
She raised nearly $300,000 since she announced that she’d plunge.
“It is beyond expectation,” Nancy said. “This community has lifted our spirits beyond anything we could ask. They have for eight years, and look at what they’ve done! I mean this is amazing, this is such a tribute to my son.”
ALS, yes, it did define him because he had it for 25% of his life. But more importantly, Pete defined ALS.
— Pete's father, John Frates
“It’s a gift from him, it’s 45, 46, maybe 50 degrees," John said. “The water temp is the hottest it’s ever been.”
After diving into the frigid ocean, Pete’s family and friends did one last ice bucket challenge in his honor.
“What do they say about team?,” Nancy asked. “You leave it better than how you found it. And that’s what he aimed to do with the world of ALS, and has he done it.”
Even though Pete’s battle has ended, his mission of striking out ALS will continue, thanks to the foundation in his name.