Ali was an inspiration to me, Sir Manasupe says

 By MALUM NALU
FORMER Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, who has been battling Parkinson’s disease, says boxing legend Muhammad Ali had been an “inspiration” to him.
Ali died last Saturday (PNG time) at a hospital in Arizona, United States, after 32 years of battling the disease. He will be buried at his home town of Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday (PNG time).
Sir Manasupe, who had to prematurely leave the country’s top public service job because of the disease, said Ali was also an inspiration to all mankind.
“He (Ali) was an inspiration to me,” Sir Manasupe said.
“He was an inspiration to all mankind. He stood up for the small man.
“Years later in life, he suffered Parkinson’s, but he didn’t let it overtake him.
“He lived for more than 30 years after he was diagnosed, and he was a strong campaigner for anti-Parkinson’s.
“For Parkinson’s sufferers, Ali’s never-say-die or give-up was an inspiration. Although he had Parkinson’s, he never stopped public and civic duty.”
Sir Manasupe first became ill with Parkinson’s in March 2014 and only spoke publicly about it last December.
He said at the time: “I have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. It is a movement disorder that affects a person’s mobility. It is not contagious and is not life-threatening.
“Muhammad Ali, President George Bush Senior, late Pope John Paul 11, evangelist Billy Graham and Michael J Fox are some of the well-known people who also have Parkinson’s Disease.”