"More Than Palsy" Unveils Raw Truths of Living with Cerebral Palsy

An estimated 18 million individuals worldwide live with cerebral palsy, a condition that presents unique daily challenges. In a powerful new campaign designed to elevate global awareness and drive crucial donations, the charity Fight The Stroke has unveiled "More Than Palsy." This initiative seeks to illuminate the extraordinary effort required to navigate life with cerebral palsy, offering an unfiltered look into the experiences of those affected.

Launched ahead of World Cerebral Palsy Day on October 6, the campaign's centerpiece is a compelling advertisement developed by creative agency Dude Milan. The project was a collaborative effort with Scottish actor, playwright, and cerebral palsy advocate Jack Hunter, who himself lives with the condition. Drawing inspiration from Hunter's poignant slam poem, "You’ve Got to be Ballsy to have Cerebral Palsy," the campaign meticulously crafts an authentic portrayal of the obstacles faced by the cerebral palsy community, told through their own voices. Notably, the film also features Mario, the son of Fight The Stroke founders Francesca Fedeli and Roberto D’Angelo, who also lives with cerebral palsy.

At the core of "More Than Palsy" is a two-minute documentary-style film. This powerful piece showcases a newly rewritten version of Hunter's original slam poem, expanded to encompass a broader collective experience beyond his personal journey, and performed live.

Livio Basoli, Chief Creative Officer and Partner at Dude, commented on the campaign's impactful approach: "Jack’s slam poetry allowed us to portray cerebral palsy without filters, in all its complexity, and to make it a symbol that speaks both to those who live with this condition and to those who are discovering it for the first time."

The full-length campaign film will be accessible on Fight The Stroke’s official website and across the foundation's extensive social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Additionally, a 30-second version, featuring the dubbed vocals of Italian rapper Moder, is slated for broadcast on television in Italy.

Lorenzo Picchiotti, Chief Creative Officer and Partner at Dude, emphasized the campaign's commitment to authenticity: "When you take on such a delicate project, the first challenge is to avoid a superficial perspective. That’s why we started from Jack Hunter’s personal story and turned it into a collective manifesto."