By Chuck Kennedy (Pete for America) - (Photo: Chuck Kennedy/PFA)
If there was one word that encompassed both hope and grit, it’d be the one I’d use to describe Michael J. Fox. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s back in 1991, he’s lived with this debilitating disease for 32 years without complaint—if you want a glimpse of that road, check out his new book, Future Boy, where he shares his journey.
Through the Michael J. Fox Foundation, he’s helped raise over $2 billion for research, backing bold, high-risk projects that are actually paying off—like discovering a key Parkinson’s biomarker in 2023. Last year, his Foundation expanded its $750-million Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) to include more participants, including those as young as 40, to explore earlier signs of the disease. He’s also been working on the National Parkinson’s Project, a new federal initiative aimed at speeding up treatments and finding a cure.
Then there’s his work with the federal government, which I’m sure took some extra grit this year. September saw him at a rally in Washington, DC to urge congress for more research funding, while the Foundation’s policy team actually won support for such initiatives in states like Florida and Texas. So he’s not only suffering from the disease, he’s also fighting it tooth and nail for the rest of us. Worthy 100 in spades.
