PHOTO BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Peter Frates, left, a former captain of both the St. John’s Prep and Boston College baseball teams, is seen as the inspiration behind the 2014 Ice-Bucket Challenge.
By STEVE KRAUSE
BEVERLY — Nancy Frates says that March 13, 2012, was the lowest day in her life.
That’s when the news came that her son, Peter, had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that causes muscle weakness, paralysis and, ultimately, respiratory failure; and for which there is no cure.
But, as Boston College athletic director Brad Bates said Tuesday at the Frates home in Beverly, “when you are handed the most horrific circumstances and you see that as an opportunity, you are an inspiration.”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) agrees. So much so that it named Frates that 2017 NCAA Inspiration Award recipient. Frates’ condition made traveling to Nashville, Tenn., next month for the award ceremony impossible, so NCAA president Dr. Mark Emmert and NCAA honors committee chair Dr. Michael Benson flew to Beverly Tuesday to personally present Frates with the award.
“Since (March 13, 2012), our lives have been a journey like nothing imaginable,” Nancy Frates said. “Today is one of the best days.”
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Frates, a former captain of both the St. John’s Prep and BC baseball teams, is seen as the inspiration behind the 2014 Ice-Bucket Challenge, where volunteers were doused with ice-cold water while donating money for ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) research.
“This is a time in our country when people are looking for inspiration,” said U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass), who was among those present Tuesday. “Not only is Peter an inspiration, but we’ve made progress (in ALS research) we wouldn’t have made without the money Peter raised.”
Frates was nominated by BC for the award. It is presented to a person connected with intercollegiate athletics who, when confronted with a life-altering situation “used perseverance, dedication and determination to overcome the event and most importantly, now serves as a role model to give hope and inspiration to others in similar situations,” according to the official definition on the NCAA’s website.
“This year, the Inspiration Award had to go to Peter,” said Benson, whose committee is tasked with choosing the recipient.
“You have inspired people all around the world.”
Bates reinforced that message.
“When the Chancellor Germany (Angela Merkel) pours a bucket of water over her head, you know you’ve made an international impact,” Bates said.
“What do you have to do to become someone who inspires people all over the world?” Bates asked. “When I thought about it, I asked myself how many people do I know who fit that description. The answer is one. Peter.”
Said Emmert, “this cause is monumental.
“This is just amazing,” Emmert said, alluding to the fact the Frates household was filled with guests. “The fact that you have touched all of these lives so much that they wanted to be here for this moment is pretty impressive. This is an incredible crowd. It also speaks to what this award is about. The NCAA gives an inspiration award every year to someone in athletics, typically a former student-athlete, who has done something that has inspired people to go above and beyond themselves and this room says everything that needs to be said. Pete, you obviously have an extraordinary family, a beautiful daughter, a wonderful wife and a great support system. What you have been able to do to inspire so many people to support this cause is monumental. It is, in fact, inspirational. We couldn’t be more proud to come here and present you and your family with this award.”
“We are beyond grateful to the NCAA,” Nancy Frates said. “I was a BC kid in the 1970s, and the NCAA was this big thing in the sky. Now, this means everything to our family.”
Also present Tuesday were members of the current Boston College baseball team, along with coach Mike Gambino.
“Our leadership comes from Pete,” said Gambino. “You see it in the way the guys rally around him. When your cause is just, people will follow.
“Keep raising money,” Gambino said. “Keep raising awareness. It is not acceptable that this disease has not been cured.”
Julie Frates, Pete’s wife, accepted the award on his behalf. He was also joined by daughter Lucy (2), parents John and Nancy, sister Jen, nieces Freya and Addie and brother Andrew.
