Stephen Hawking to appear in a commercial on motor neuron disease
Posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2007 (EST)
Paralysed scientist Stephen Hawking will appear in a commercial to promote world awareness of Lou Gehrig's disease, the Israeli association sponsoring the initiative said Wednesday.

JERUSALEM (AFP) - It will mark the first time in the 40 years since he was diagnosed with the paralysing disease that Hawking will participate in such a campaign, said IsrALS, which is dedicated to finding a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Hawking, 65, will appear in two short clips to be filmed at Cambridge University, where he is Lucasian Professor of Mathematics -- a post once held by Sir Isaac Newton.

"The move marks the recognition of British scientist, Professor Stephen Hawking, a well known sufferer of ALS disease, of a real opportunity for a scientific breakthrough in the research of the disease," IsrALS said.

Hawking was diagnosed with the muscle-wasting motor neuron disease at the age of 22. He is in a wheelchair and speaks with the aid of a computer and voice synthesizer.

He agreed to take part in the initiative during a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories last December.

"A hundred and fifty people die in Israel every year from ALS and many more in Britain. But nevertheless the disease is largely neglected by pharmaceutical companies and the scientific community," IsrALS head Nir Tirosh said.

"We will hand over for free the clip to every ALS association in the world, every TV channel in the world that will be willing to use it," he said.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a terminal and incurable disorder that attacks the central nervous system.

Last month the world-renowned cosmologist soared into weightlessness on a zero gravity flight that briefly allowed him to escape his wheelchair.