Motor neurone disease sufferer and ice bucket challenge creator gets voice back
The man who played a key role in raising awareness of motor neurone disease, through creating the Ice Bucket Challenge, has now been given his voice back after the illness took it away.
The Ice Bucket Challenge captured world attention and raised money and awareness of the disease.
Its co-creator Pat Quinn was just 30 when he was diagnosed with the disorder.
The condition slowly robbed him of his ability to walk, use of his hands, and finally his voice.
"It attacks all of your voluntary muscles - all of your movements,” said Professor Matthew Kiernan of Sydney University’s Brain and Mind Centre.
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But last month Mr Quinn was blessed with a technological breakthrough.
His family and friends were on hand to witness a miracle as the Ice Bucket Challenge creator finally spoke again.
"It's a strange feeling saying your first words for a second time," Mr Quinn said.
“You don't even realise how powerful, how unique your voice really is."
Two Aussies, Oskar Westerdal and Rene Schultz, of BWM Denstu, made it all possible.
"We have always been very interested in new technologies and we have always tried to do stuff for good," Mr Schultz told 7 News.
Mr Quinn hadn't saved his voice recordings, so the men trawled through YouTube clips to piece his sounds together.
Thanks to Project Revoice, he can now use his eye muscles to spell out words.
Mr Westerdal added: "He said to us, 'motor neurone disease, it takes and takes and takes, and this time I will take something back'."
One in 14,000 Australians suffer from motor neurone disease. This new technology will bring hope to thousands of sufferers both here and around the world.
"If you have ALS, it’s crucial that you do not wait and that you start backing up your voice while you still have it," Mr Quinn said.
"It's changed my life forever."
Visit the Project Revoice website for more information.
