Michael J. Fox stayed secret with his condition until the year of 1998 when he decided to help others with the same disease. He finally realized that after years of brain surgery and struggling that it was time to help others. When Michael J. Fox launched The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in 2000, they started to raise money for the awareness of Parkinson's Disease. Shortly after he launched his foundation he retired from his role in Spin City. Years after he retired, New York Times called the Michael J. Fox Foundation "the most credible voice on Parkinson's research in the world." By 2004, the foundation had raised over $70 million dollars to help find a cure. Also, 200 Parkinson's Disease research projects had been launched in 18 countries.
After Michael J. Fox had raised a fortune in 2004, he announced that he was returning to full time acting along side his work with the foundation in 2012. Instead of being ashamed of his disease, he joked about it and even turned it into a sitcom called The Micheal J. Fox Show. The sitcom was about an actor in show business that develops Parkinson's at an early age. His seemingly lifelike character overcomes obstacles in his life, challenges that Michael himself had to overcome. The things that he learned about having Parkinson's Disease were expressed as life lessons on the show. One of the things that fox learned was: "Parkinson's has made me a better person -a better husband, father and overall human being."-And he was right.
Although the Michael J. Fox Foundation has not yet found a cure, research projects are starting all over the world to help and the foundation's research is also still growing. Michale J. Fox promises a cure is on the way. People know Michael as an actor. But he is a hero...a real hero.
Page created on 12/16/2013 12:00:00 AM
Last edited 12/16/2013 12:00:00 AM