Michael J. Fox, 63, Honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom, Raises $2 Billion for Parkinson's Research

Jan 4, 2025, 10:35 PM

Michael J. Fox, 63, renowned actor and advocate for Parkinson's disease research, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden. The award, the highest civilian honor in the United States, recognizes Fox's decades-long efforts in raising awareness and funding for Parkinson's research. Diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991 at the age of 29, Fox established the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000, which is based in New York and has since raised over $2 billion for research. Inspired by Muhammad Ali, Fox's advocacy has led to significant advancements, including the identification of a biomarker to detect Parkinson's before symptoms appear. Fox's contributions, both as an actor and as a philanthropist, have earned him widespread admiration.