article_snippet: Prof Hawking was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease (MND) in 1964 at the age of 22 and given just a few years to live.
article_snippet: Now aged 73 and despite Prof Hawking illness leaving Prof Hawking almost completely paralysed, Prof Hawking is celebrated as one of the most brilliant scientists of the modern age.
article_snippet: Prof Hawking was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease (MND) in 1964 at the age of 22 and given just a few years to live .
article_snippet: Now aged 73 and despite his illness leaving him almost completely paralysed, Prof Hawking is celebrated as one of the most brilliant scientists of the modern age .
highlights_snippet: Prof Hawking was diagnosed with a rare form of motor neurone disease (MND) in 1964 at the age of 22 and given just a few years to live .
  