A recent announcement by Michael J. Fox states that his foundation is giving away over $24 million in grants for researching and treating Parkinson’s disease. Here’s an excerpt:
“ for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) announces 127 new grant awards totaling more than $24 million. These projects reflect our research strategy to define, measure and treat Parkinson’s disease. We also awarded grants to develop the research tools the field needs to advance.
All of our funding is focused on our mission to find a cure for Parkinson’s and to improve quality of life for those living with the disease today. Each step — from basic research to understand the disease through clinical trials of potential drugs to stop it — is designed to support those goals.”
The Founding Of The Foundation
Michael J. Fox is widely known for his acting roles in Back to the Future and Spin City. He was forced to retire early though after being diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease. In 1998 he revealed his diagnosis to the public and testified before Congress:
“As I began to understand what research might promise for the future, I became hopeful that I would not face the terrible suffering so many with Parkinson’s endure. But I was shocked and frustrated to learn the amount of funding for Parkinson’s research is so meager.”
That’s why in 2000 he decided to go all-in. Fox formed a team to raise money targeted for research that would lead to improved treatments to slow, stop and reverse the progression of the disease — and someday find a cure. That was when he launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which has since become the world’s largest and most acclaimed nonprofit for Parkinson’s research and advocacy.
So far, the Michael J. Fox Foundation has raised more than $800 million from private donations. He said they’re “closing in on a billion, yeah!” Their most recent dish out was just announced that they are giving away $24 million more in grant funding. The funding is being distributed in the form of 127 new grant awards for various projects seeking to understand, treat, diagnose, and measure the progression of the disease.
Fox says he’s not expecting a cure in his lifetime, but he is expecting vastly improved therapies. He said:
“And I’ll take that in the short-term. The idea of finding that eureka! moment and the thing that cures it, I don’t know that that’ll happen in the next 20 years. But I do think we’ll have therapies where it’s a vast improved quality of life for people with Parkinson’s.”
His foundation doesn’t only look for treatments and a cure, it also fills those that are also suffering from Parkinson’s with hope. Jennilynn, a Fox Insight participant said:
“It was actually his books that got me out of the first two years. I didn’t plan for the future. I did nothing. I literally didn’t even have a bank account, really. I had no idea how long I was going to be functional. But reading the books, like, there was a level of ferocious positivity and fierce optimism that got my fire lit again.”
To see that 25 years after receiving his diagnosis, Fox is 57, married 30 years to actress Tracy Pollan, they have four children – and he’s still a working and award-winning actor – is nothing short of inspiring.
When asked by CBS News interviewer Jane Pauley:
“Do you presume there’s still special things ahead of you?”
Fox replied:
“Oh yeah. Why sure, watch. Not the least of which, I think, is a breakthrough for Parkinson’s. And I look forward to grandkids, and I look forward to weddings and I look forward to books.”
Only 1 in 10 people get that Parkinson’s in their lifetime develops “early onset” Parkinson’s like Fox did. It is typically a late-in-life disease. However, he has surely made the best of it!
Then when asked by Pauley:
“So, 50 years from now, do you think you’ll be remembered for the ‘Back to the Future’ movies, or for a cure for Parkinson’s?”
Fox replied:
“I had a moment with somebody and they said, ‘Someday there’s gonna be a cure for Parkinson’s and it’s gonna be because of you.’ And to me this was the first time that it really struck me. And I didn’t — and not that I took it seriously, but I feel part of something that is much more special — if it happens it’s much more special than any movie or any TV show.”
