More Than Palsy

It is thought that between 17-50 million people globally live with cerebral palsy, it remains an underrepresented and neglected disability - with even major reports unable to confirm the exact numbers. To raise global awareness of the condition and drive donations, FightTheStroke has launched More Than Palsy. The foundation, based in Italy and connected to an international network, promotes the rights of young stroke survivors and people living with cerebral palsy. The campaign highlights the incredible effort required to live with this disability in a world built by non-disabled people.

Launched in advance of World Cerebral Palsy Day on 6 October, More Than Palsy was created by DUDE Milan in collaboration with Scottish actor, playwright and CP advocate Jack Hunter, who is living with cerebral palsy himself. Inspired by Hunter’s slam poem -“You've Got to be Ballsy to have Cerebral Palsy” - the campaign paints an authentic picture of the challenges faced by the cerebral palsy community through their own stories: a stark reminder that life with cerebral palsy is not for the weak - it takes strength to be a disabled person in a non-disabled world. The film also features Mario, the son of the organisation’s founders - Francesca Fedeli and Roberto D'Angelo, who is living with cerebral palsy.

At the heart of the campaign is a two-minute documentary-style film directed by filmmaking collective Broga’s, which features a new version of the slam poem, rewritten by Hunter to expand the story beyond his individual experience and performed in person. Juxtaposing shots from Hunter’s recital with real-life protagonists with cerebral palsy, cast from the network of families supported by FightTheStroke, the film mixes stills and video to powerfully convey the small yet incessant challenges that make up the daily life of a person with cerebral palsy - from the physical frustration at tying one’s shoelaces or trying to use a tampon, to the mental hardship of being bullied by “normies”. It closes with: ‘Do you have the spine to join the fight?’

Raw, powerful and bold, the film aims to both inspire people who have been living with cerebral palsy for years, as well inform future new parents about the existence of this condition and the support that FightTheStroke Foundation can offer.

The full-length version of the campaign film will run on Fight The Stroke’s website (fightthestroke.org/morethanpalsy) as well as across the foundation’s social channels including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and LinkedIn. A 30-second version, featuring the dubbed vocals of Italian rapper Moder, will also run on TV in Italy.

FightTheStroke’s founders Francesca Fedeli and Roberto D'Angelo also gave a TED talk in 2013 on the foundation, which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhpFTQfiqCs&t=85s