I am a strong believer that surviving despite serious illness has a lot to do with the will to live. A lot of people in Hawking's place would have given up and wasted away years ago - he has so much to live for, he's far too busy to pack it all in. And he still has time to lay down some hardcore hip-hip tips too (
http://www.mchawking.com/).
Props to the man - I'll crack open a beer for him tonight...