Celebrities with MS
"You lose nothing when fighting for a cause ...
 In my mind the losers are those who don't have a cause they care about."
- Muhammad Ali

The greatest asset that a celebrity with or without a disease can bring is the ability to raise awareness and money for a cause. The awareness and greater funding into spinal-cord injury can be attributed greatly to Christopher Reeve. Michael J. Fox has brought forth his power to raise Parkinson's disease research to a whole new level. These celebrities are just two of many that made their individual conditions into their cause or mission.

Christopher Reeve sought out the American Paralysis Association following his injury in 1995. After his injury he said, "I have always been a crusader for causes I believe in. This time, the cause found me." He shared the American Paralysis Association's belief in a cure and lent his name, passion and drive to the organization which ultimately became known as the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

Michael J. Fox upon disclosing his condition in 1998, committed himself to the campaign for increased Parkinson's research. While he maintains a strong commitment to his acting and writing careers, Fox has shifted his primary focus and energies toward The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which he launched in 2000, and its efforts to raise much-needed research funding and awareness for Parkinson's disease.

A face or name can have such a great impact on any cause. When that celebrity is affected personally, whether themselves, a family member, or even a friend, a fire is lit within them and they can charge forward like there's no tomorrow. If done correctly, they have the ability to rally and energize others into which ever battle is at hand.

The cause for multiple sclerosis (MS) has never had a single "high profile" individual or celebrity like Michael J. Fox or Christopher Reeve. It might take a current "high profile" celebrity to bring it the added or needed time in the spotlight. The most noticeable thing about these two individuals is that anytime Michael J. Fox has the chance, he speaks about Parkinson’s Research - it's his personal mission. Christopher Reeve, while he and his wife Dana were still alive, made it their personal mission and they luckily have their foundation to continue with their names.

A cause seems to have a greater chance of success when there is a single person to rally behind. Currently for MS, the rally is strong but still broken up into smaller or local groups. What more could be done or achieved if there was a single person to rally with?

Now if you have watched any television during your lifetime, you know probably know that there are many public figures living with MS and others who have passed on. Jack Osbourne has partnered with Teva Neuroscience for his website called You Don't Know Jack About MS®. There is the actress Annette Funicello and comedian Richard Pryor. Then there is the actor David L. Lander from Lavern & Shirley, actress Terri Garr, talk show host Montel Williams, and country singer Clay Walker. As with anyone suffering from MS, what you see isn’t always how it really is.