05 / MND
Stephen Hawking & Motor Neurone Disease
What MND is, how Hawking defied its usual course for 55 years, and how to support research and care today.
Diagnosed with a form of motor neurone disease in 1963 and told he had perhaps two years, Stephen Hawking went on to live with the condition for fifty-five, an almost unheard-of survival that doctors still cannot fully explain. The disease shaped every part of his life, and yet he never allowed it to define him.
He also never hid from it. Hawking became a patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association in 2008 and one of the most visible advocates the MND community has ever had, using his fame to raise awareness and funds throughout his life.
These pages explain the disease in plain terms, what is motor neurone disease?, covering what it does to the body, who it affects, and why Hawking's survival was so exceptional. They also explain how you can help: a share of any revenue this free site earns goes to the MND Association, and you can give directly or learn more on the support MND research page.
His own experience of living with the disease, and the resilience it called for, is reflected in his words on disability and resilience and throughout his life story.
What Is Motor Neurone Disease?
A clear, plain-English guide to MND (also called ALS): what it does to the body, who it affects, its symptoms and prognosis, and why Stephen Hawking's 55-year survival was so exceptional.
Read →MND Symptoms & Diagnosis
How motor neurone disease typically begins, the range of early symptoms, and why it can be difficult and slow to diagnose. A clear, supportive overview.
Read →MND Research & Treatment
There is no cure for motor neurone disease yet, but treatment and specialist care can help, and research is advancing. An accurate, hopeful overview of where things stand.
Read →Living With Motor Neurone Disease
MND changes daily life profoundly, but support, technology and specialist care help people maintain independence, communication and identity. What living with MND involves.
Read →Assistive Technology & MND
Technology can preserve communication and independence when MND takes away movement and speech. The tools that help, and the famous system that gave Hawking his voice.
Read →Types of Motor Neurone Disease
MND is an umbrella term covering several related conditions, including ALS. A clear guide to the main types, the ALS naming, and why progression varies so much.
Read →Notable People With Motor Neurone Disease
Stephen Hawking is the most famous person to have lived with MND, but others have raised awareness too, from Lou Gehrig to Rob Burrow. Their stories and their impact.
Read →Supporting Someone With MND: A Guide for Carers
Caring for someone with motor neurone disease is demanding and deeply personal. Practical and emotional guidance for family and friends, and where to find support.
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