Anthony Senerchia, the man who helped inspire the ice bucket challenge, has passed away

Anthony Senerchia didn’t let his disease get him down. Instead, he used it as a way to raise awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, through inspiring a viral sensation, the ice bucket challenge. And after a 14-year battle with ALS, Senerchia passed away on Nov. 25.

On the off chance you’re not familiar, the ice bucket challenge involves dumping a bucket of ice over your head and sharing a video of it online. You can challenge your friends to do so, too. If you participate, you can also make a donation to the ALS Association to help support the ALS community.

The trend started in 2014 when Senerchia and two others fighting ALS, Pat Quinn and Pete Frates teamed up to make a difference. Since then, millions of videos have been posted and over $200 million for ALS research has been donated.

Remember seeing these videos all over the place? So much fun for such a great cause. Even celebrities got in on the viral video phenomenon.

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. It causes muscles to deteriorate, therefore potentially causing the loss of movement, speech and breathing, according to the ALS Association.

Along with inspiring millions online, Senerchia also inspired his family, his wife, Jeanette and his daughter, Taya.

“It’s a difficult disease and tough when you’re losing,” Jeanette Senerchia told Lohud.com. “Your body is failing you. But he was a fighter… He was our light. He made our life better.”

Anthony and Jeanette were high school sweethearts, and shortly after they were married, Anthony was diagnosed with ALS in 2003. Five years after the diagnosis, the couple had a daughter. Taya is now nine years old, and there’s a fund online you can donate to in order to help pave the way for her future.

In his 46 years of life, Senerchia managed to inspire many and raise awareness about the disease that would ultimately take his life, and based on the reaction to his death online, his story has touched the hearts of many.

People are sending their condolences online.

https://twitter.com/Iona1991/status/935214585174528001

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcKiq8uH1Ri/?tagged=icebucketchallenge

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcGhIQ0FL7_/?tagged=icebucketchallenge

Our hearts go out to the Senerchia family. To help find a cure for ALS, you can donate to the ALS Association.