Escaping from a straitjacket has become a mainstay trick for many magicians. Illusionist Harry Houdini made it a staple of his own act while hanging upside down from a crane.

Now, Mark Correia is putting his own twist on the age-old magic trick by spending two weeks — as of today (Tuesday) strapped into one in support of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

The Oakville-born and raised teen says his efforts are more than just a stunt — they are an initiative to raise much-needed awareness, and funds, to combat the degenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system.

“Nearly 100,000 Canadians have Parkinson’s disease with approximately 5,500 new cases diagnosed each year,” said Correia, 18.

“The straitjacket is a metaphor for the restrictive nature of Parkinson’s, and my plans to escape from the jacket on Day 14 represents a world free from this debilitating disease.”

Correia, who has been practising magic since he was six years old, told the Oakville Beaver Monday he is supporting The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research because of his admiration for its namesake, actor Michael J. Fox who has Parkinson’s.

Correia said when he was younger, he couldn’t understand how “someone so positive could be affected with something so challenging” and made it his mission to learn about the disease.

The more he learned, the more he wanted to use his art to affect positive change — he hopes to raise $25,000.

“My hope is the funds I raise will support the foundation’s goal of finding a cure in this lifetime,” said Correia, who just completed his first year at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal, Que.

He’s calling the straitjacket stunt Escaping Parkinson’s and will be filming daily video blogs of himself attempting to go about his everyday life until July 22 when he’ll try his escape. They are posted on his website, markcorreia.ca.