Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, and the family of ALS Ice Bucket Challenge co-founder and late Yonkers Native Pat Quinn announced the date of the 2024 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge set for Saturday, Aug. 3. The annual event will once again take place trackside at the historic Yonkers Raceway located at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts in Westchester, New York, one of the largest such resorts in the nation.
Festivities will begin at 1p.m. with the ice bucket dump scheduled for 2 p.m. Participants should pre-register online at YonkersNY.gov/IBC. The event, co-founded by Quinn after his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2013 at the age of 29, became a global phenomenon as more than 17 million people around the world participated in the challenge via social media by dumping buckets of ice water on their heads. The event continues to remain a catalyst for raising funds to support research to identify a cure for the debilitating disease and raise awareness of the need for more research funding. It is reported that an ALS patient dies in the U.S. every ninety minutes.
ALS, often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Quinn lost his battle with ALS in November 2020, yet his drive and determination live on through his family, friends, community and beyond to raise awareness and find a cure for the approximately hundreds of thousands of Americans suffering from ALS. While the prognosis for ALS patients 80 years after Lou Gehrig was diagnosed remains the same, technology now exists to keep those living with ALS alive longer. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 5,000 individuals are newly diagnosed with ALS across the U.S. annually.
Leading the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge for another year is Quinn’s father, Patrick Quinn Sr., who continues to pay tribute to his son and ensure his mission continues. Hosting a variety of fundraising events throughout the year, Quinn’s nonprofit organization, Quinn for the Win Find Your Smile Foundation continues to have significant impact at both local and national levels.
Locally, Quinn for the Win provides cash grants to local ALS patients and their families to offset expenses not covered by medical insurance.
In the 10 years since it was founded, ALS Ice Bucket Challenges have also significantly increased the awareness of this deadly disease globally. As one example, 10 years ago only 80 multidisciplinary clinics for ALS were open around the country. Now, more than 240 are open nationally where ALS patients can see a pathologist and all the medical disciplines they need all in one place. Technology is also much more advanced with Pat Quinn Jr. using an expanded CPAP machine, one of the first prototypes, to help expand his lungs and make it easier to breathe. Social media also allows patients to connect from all around the world, including Pat Quinn Jr. while he was alive, engaging with patients across the globe.
And according to the ALS Association, more than $2 million has been invested into the development of a new drug, Relyvrio, that was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help slow down the effects of ALS. In the last six years, three ALS drugs have been approved by the FDA with several others in clinical trials. Also, approximately 130 research projects are being funded in 12 countries around the world thanks to Quinn’s efforts.
Since 2015, Empire City Casino has hosted the annual challenge, with the exception of 2020 because of the pandemic. The city of Yonkers donates buckets and the stage for the event and organizes online registration for participants. Empire City underwrites the cost of the event and donates the space, staffing, and over 1,300 pounds of ice.
The 2024 Annual Ice Bucket Challenge will be held outdoors trackside and is free to participants and attendees of all ages are welcome. For more information and to register, visit empirecitycasino.com.
