It's been 25 years since Michael J. Fox's was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Then 29 years old, the star was in the middle of filming "Doc Hollywood" in 1991 when he received the life-changing news. He didn't disclose his diagnosis to the public for seven years.
But at age 55, Fox has now been a leading activist for finding a cure for over two decades cause, founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000. The foundation aims to further medical advances that could help find a cure.
And Fox said he's been able to live a full life while dealing with the disease.
"I was diagnosed 25 years ago, and I was only supposed to work for another 10 years. I was supposed to be pretty much disabled by now. I’m far from it, Fox said in an interview with Haute Living. "This is as bad as I get, and I can still go to the store and go marketing.”
On Nov. 12, the Michael J. Fox Foundation will throw its annual “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s” gala at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Last year, the event raised more than $5 million.
"We’re trying to get things in the pipeline that may be curative and therapeutic to a point where that would resemble a cure," Fox said. "If we can halt progression and diminish symptoms, then I’ll take that."
Photo Credit: WireImage
