To what extreme would you venture to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson's disease? For 18-year old Canadian magician Mark Correia, spending two weeks buckled into a straitjacket seemed to fit the bill. Inspired by Michael J. Fox-- the actor who first sparked his interest in acting-- Mark's Escaping Parkinson's stunt will not only set the world record for the longest amount of time spent in a straitjacket, but aims to simultaneously raise $25,000 for Team Fox.
Before beginning his corageous and zany effort, we caught up with Mark to see how he was preparing:
You’ve taken an incredibly unique approach to raising awareness and funds for Team Fox. Tell us about Escaping Parkinson’s and your inspiration to get involved!
I have been interested in acting ever since I saw Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future at a very young age. When I was fourteen, I learned to escape from a straitjacket, and I began playing with the idea of setting a world record. I thought about how many magicians were trying to break the record for “fastest straitjacket escape” and figured I would do something different. For me, the scariest part about being in a straitjacket is the time you actually spend in it, so I decided to flip the classic record break. From July 8-22, I will spend a full two weeks living in a straitjacket before making my escape. In honor of the man who inspired me to perform, I wanted to use this opportunity to help those with Parkinson’s escape their disease for good, so I have set a fundraising goal of $25,000 for my efforts.
Spending two weeks in a straitjacket is a serious challenge! What are you most excited and/or nervous about?
Nervous? Nothing! Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself... In truth it’s keeping me up at night. Which is ironic because when I am in the straitjacket it will literally keep me up at night. In all honesty with the date creeping up on me I am becoming more and more nervous about the bathroom, eating, my arms, the heat, and falling down face first... But those are only a few. I have slept in my jacket before and it is one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life. That said, I am most excited about all the money we are going to raise, and about the reactions from the general public when someone on the subway is wearing a straitjacket. Here’s to a lot of strange looks!
We imagine that training for this stunt has been a unique process. Share how you’ve done so!
I was supposed to train for this?... Well I’ve told all my friends they don’t have to be seen with me, I’ve apologized to my parents, and I’ve been doing a lot of practicing: I have slept in my straitjacket, gone out in public, I’ve found a way to stretch in it and stay safe, and I have filmed a lot of videos. When I go out in the straitjacket the reactions are not at all what I expected. People don’t like to acknowledge me. They turn the other direction, they pretend I am dressed in a suit, some people hide laughter. It is amazing how the public treats someone who looks different than them. Thankfully many people have been very supportive. I can’t wait to show the world just how stupid I’m willing to look for the right cause. I have also practiced eating, which usually goes one of two ways: very well, or what I like to call “two weeks in my own food”.
We bet we weren’t the only ones left a bit awestruck after first hearing your plans. How has your community reacted to and supported your efforts?
When I tell people I plan to spend fourteen days in a straitjacket their first question is usually “why?” to which I answer for Parkinson’s disease research, to which they answer “Oh that’s amazing” then there is a small pause, followed by “How are you going to use the bathroom?” To which I answer “Not easily”. People are very supportive of the whole thing when they really begin to think about the fact that this is not just some joke I’ve come up with. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and relaxation. It’s not going to be comfortable, it’s not going to be entirely clean, and it’s probably not going to smell very good. I am undertaking something nobody has even attempted before. I am going to spend the longest amount of time ever in a straitjacket, and then at the end I am going to escape in front of an audience. I may not have the strength, and it may be a disaster. Only time will tell!
You’ve developed some great ideas around how fans can follow along and interact with your efforts. Share those with us!
Well on a donation front, if fans donate $100 or more, I will write their name on the jacket permanently; wherever I go, their name follows. Fans can also interact with my efforts by following along with my daily video blogs and suggesting tasks they’d like to see me accomplish. For example, making an omelette, or changing a tire on a car, or going to the gym, etc. They can also of course share the videos and follow along with my blog and website at www.markcorreia.ca and escapingparkinsons.tumblr.com
Fantastic! Anything else you’d like to share?
I do have to admit, it’s amazing how many people have reached out to me to express their support. Even people I’ve never met before. It’s easy to forget that disease is a very real thing, that affects very real people. The number of people who have approached me to tell me that their grandfather has Parkinson’s or their mom just died of Parkinson’s really gave me the inspiration to continue my stunt. There have been many times I’ve wanted to pull out, or turn back, or give up. The thing is I have the freedom to be able to make that choice. At any point I can say “I don’t want to do this” and that would be that. Those suffering from Parkinson’s have no choice. They remain strong in their battle because they have to. And that is something that will never cease to inspire me.
Best of luck, Mark! We can't wait to follow along with your progress.
