Captain's Ball continues Pete Frates' fight for a cure – Boston 25 News

BOSTON – Hundreds gathered at SoWa in the South End for the third annual Captain's Ball – to honor the life of Pete Frates and continue his fight against ALS.

The event, which begins in 2022, was hosted by Ray Bourque and his foundation.

“If you know anything about ALS, the Ice Bucket Challenge and Pete Frates, you’re in,” Bourque said.

The evening of drinks, food, entertainment and auction items will raise funds for the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at MGH.

It also marks the tenth anniversary of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised around $250 million for ALS.

Frates, a former Boston College baseball player, died of the disease in 2019.

“People weren't talking about ALS,” said Nancy Frates, Pete's mother. “We made it known.”

Frates told Boston 25 on Thursday that the fundraiser has sparked new studies and cures that could increase the life expectancy of those affected.

She continued: “Maybe it's 10 or 20 years now. Just ask any family member – that's so much hope.”

Local legends like Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand were in attendance at the event to support the cause.

He added: “It just shows what people can do when they put their minds to it.”

Bourque and Frates hope that this event will become an annual event in the coming years.

They claim that the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has sparked a fundraising frenzy to cure the disease, with the total amount raised for this cause in 2024 approaching $1 billion.

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