CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- The Chesterfield father whose ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning went viral last summer has died. Steve Broas was surrounded by family when he passed away at his home Wednesday night, family members told WTVR CBS 6 senior reporter Wayne Covil.
Broas made national headlines last August when Manning accepted his Ice Bucket Challenge. Broas, a longtime Giants fan, said he was touched by Manning's personal response.
"The fact that Eli took time to take the challenge during a critical time for the Giants, says a lot about him," Broas said last summer.
"I wanted to help spread awareness about this disease and help find a cure," Manning said in a statement. "He accepted the challenge and then challenged me, so I wanted to do it for him."
"Steve had endured a lot, but every time I interacted with him, he had the widest, brightest smile on his face," ALS Association social worker Emma Denat said. "He had so much gratitude and a wonderful spirit. He was wonderful man."
Ice Bucket Challenge viral videos saturated social media last summer and helped raise millions of dollars for research to fight ALS. Denat said during the ALS Advocacy Conference next week in D.C., leaders in the ALS community we meet with lawmakers about how best to spend the money.
Funeral arrangement for Steve Broas have not yet been finalized.
