Ice bucket challenge co-pioneer dies

MANILA, Philippines – One of the co-pioneers of the viral fundraiser “Ice Bucket Challenge” died last weekend at age 27 in a diving accident.

The body of Corey Griffin was recovered early Saturday, Aug. 16 from the bottom of the harbor, by an off-duty lifeguard who happened to be nearby in Nantucket, Massachusetts, CNN reported.

A police report cited by E! Online said that he jumped at 2.am. Saturday off a building at Straight Wharf. His body “floated to the surface” but his body “then went under water again and not resurfacing.” He was pronounced dead in the hospital at 3a.m.

The “Ice Bucket Challenge” is a fundraiser that aims to raise awareness on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which affects the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord that could result to paralysis.

In the “Ice Bucket Challenge,” one has to douse himself with a bucket of ice and challenge other people to do the same or else one has to donate to charities contributing to prevention and research of ALS.

Some of the high-profile personalities who have done the challenge include Bill Gates, Justin Timberlake and LeBron James.

Griffin died reportedly within hours of raising $100,000 for an ALS charity. He was in Nantucket for an ALS fundraiser.

He was a close friend of Pete Frates, a former captain of the Boston College baseball team who was diagnosed with ALS in 2012.

“Helping out was nothing new for Griff. He held his own event for me back in 2012, just a few months after diagnosis. He worked his butt off these last few weeks for ALS. We texted everyday, planning and scheming ways to raise funds and plan events,” Pete Frates posted on his Facebook account.

The ALS Association said in its website that it has received $31.5 million as of Wednesday, Aug. 20, in donations compared to $1.9 million during the same period last year (July 29 to August 20).

source: inquirer

Tags: co-pioneer died, Ice Bucket challenge, World

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