Our second hero for this week is Brett Howlett.  Brett’s creative mind is responsible for many of our successful campaigns and our latest awareness campaign is no exception. Brett created a simple yet powerful television commercial that is currently airing on UniversalNBC.  Brett and his company, Hatch, turned the concept into reality with a team of incredibly talented professionals all lending their support. The Parkinson’s community is very fortunate to have people like Brett in our corner! 

What Drives Your Commitment to find a cure for Parkinson’s?

There are so so so many good causes that are so so so worthy of our time and money…we end up gravitating to what is closest to us. My wife introduced me to the importance of (and the possibility for contributing to the cure) for making a difference to Parkinson’s disease.

It began through her work with Michael J. Fox…plus my subsequent fundraiser events and meeting Parkinson’s patients – who were the most life-affirming people I’d ever met.

Plus my admiration for Michael who took it upon himself to rise above the ‘bureaucratic secrecy of cure-finding’ to create an open-source system of research that could benefit the world.

Anyone with a vision like this naturally attracts supporters – including me.

Why Shake It Up Australia?

Shake It Up Australia (SIUAF) is the perfect extension of what Michael wanted to achieve globally.

Clyde had set this in motion independently in Australia…which is a testament to the ‘like-mindedness’ of the two aiming for the same goal: Clyde has the same gentle and generous personality…and infectious positivity.

The great thing about SIUAF joining with The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is that their funding contributes to a global ‘open source’ information bank…so there’s little or no duplication in research, research $$$ go further, discoveries are shared and built upon…and one person’s success will be everyone’s success.

As Michael has said of his foundation, “we want to go out of business as fast as we can.”  There is no ‘self interest’ in these foundations. There is only ‘everyone’s interest’.

Tell us what you are doing to Shake Things Up?

I will do everything I can:  Idea. Action. Amplified.

Greatest Reward?

I want more people to talk about Parkinson’s disease, for those diagnosed to feel positive, and their loved ones to be able to support them. Hope and positivity is a cure in itself.

Best advice for people looking to Shake It Up?

Know what SIUAF is trying to achieve, then add your spin to it. There is no wrong way to save the world.

Oh, and congratulate everyone who tries.

In case you missed our latest television commercial currently being aired on NBCUniversal which was created and produced by Brett & Alison Howlett here it is!

Brett Howlett is the Creative Director at Hatch Solutions