ALS Ice Bucket Challenge honors Beverly native Pete Frates as family continues to fight for cure

BOSTON — Nine years after the ALS Ice Bucket challenge went viral, the battle against the deadly disease continues.

Dozens of people poured cold water on their heads while standing on the steps outside the State House on Wednesday after former Gov. Charlie Baker declared August Ice Bucket Challenge Month.

The family and friends of Pete Frates, one of the creators of the challenge, were part of the event. The Beverly native and former Boston College baseball player died at age 34 following a battle with ALS in 2019.

“It’s a mixed emotion day,” Pete’s mother Nancy Frates said. “We are committed to this mission to find a cure for this disease so we’re going to come back every August until a cure.”

This is the ninth year the Frates family has put on the event to help raise money for ALS research.

Pete’s family said they will continue to fight for the cure.

“We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but we need you to stay with us. And in the spirit of Pete, we will be resilient. We will be courageous, and we will be determined until we reach that goal,” Nancy Frates said. “Not just for those who we lost, but for those who will be soon diagnosed.”

The ALS Association says about 5,00 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with the disease each year.

The ice bucket challenge has raised more than $220 million for ALS research, and while progress has been made on treatments, there is still no cure for the disease.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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