Because of Peter Frates’s diagnosis and charity involvement, ALS is moving towards a cure.
On March 13, 2011, Nancy’s 27-year-old son, Peter, was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Since that day, Nancy and her family have immersed themselves in the ALS community and helped make the ice bucket challenge go incredibly viral on social media. In the past couple of years, she has traveled and networked with CEOs, Senators, Congressmen, top medical professionals, and governmental authorities in light of bringing awareness to the disease and to hopefully find a cure.
Key Takeaways:
[3:20] Rob participated in the ice bucket challenge without even knowing it! [3:55] The ice bucket challenge has raised over $220 million. [5:45] What is the ice bucket challenge? [8:35] Peter was giving the ALS community a new face. [12:45] Nancy saw a drastic decline in Peter’s health, between when he was diagnosed to six weeks later, when they got a second opinion. [13:40] How much money is needed to cure this disease? A billion dollars. [14:40] As a mother or even as a parent, you really don’t know how you’re going to face something until it hits you. [16:40] Nancy is doing this for Peter. [19:40] Nancy knew she wasn’t going to become a doctor overnight, so she looked inward. What can her family bring to the table to move this disease towards a cure? [20:15] Three months after Peter was diagnosed, 1,200 people came to their fund raiser from all over. [22:05] Peter has lost his voice and cannot type. It has come to a point where he can only communicate with his eyes. [24:05] The majority of people in this world are GOOD people. Don’t believe what’s on your TV. [28:35] Nancy talks about Peter’s latest tweets. [32:10] Peter knows there will not be a cure developed in time for him, but he hopes that other families won’t have to go through this in the future. [39:45] August is an important month for Nancy. She explains what she’s doing on the fund raising side of things for this year. [43:00] Anybody can take action and make a difference.Mentioned in This Episode:
Tweetables:
“It was two young men that got strategic and purposeful and now the ice bucket challenge is a historic movement.”
“We are going to change the trajectory of this disease.”
“You can’t sell a product until the consumer knows what it is. Same thing happens with diseases like ALS.”
