This year’s edition of the event, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s, organized by the foundation of Michael J. Fox to raise funds to help people with Parkinson’s, took place on Saturday and was presented by Denis Learywhile telling with a show Steve Nicks.
In an interview with Peoplethe protagonist of back to the future He said that maintaining his sense of dark humor while going through this illness is difficult: “It’s actually difficult for me. “I have to keep it intact,” he said.
Likewise, the Hollywood star explained that this helps him cope with this disease that was diagnosed in 1991, as it can help him face adversity. In addition, he revealed that he appreciates this way of thinking because it allows him to avoid taboos and break down barriers during difficult conversations: “It’s true and it’s okay. Let’s accept it and make a difference,” he said at the event in New York City.
As if that were not enough, in 2024, the gala managed to raise USD 116 million in total for Parkinson’s disease research. For this reason, the actor said that this year’s event, which was presented by Denis Leary and featured music from Stevie Nicks, It was “very exciting. Since its creation in the fall of 2000, the foundation has raised $1.75 billion.
“I can’t believe so many of these people I’ve known for years are so nice to me.. “I think it’s because they see an opportunity to win, to make a breakthrough, and that’s what we’re looking for,” he said.
It should be noted that Michael J. Fox He had already spoken openly about how he uses humor to cope with Parkinson’s, before his NBC comedy, The Michael J. Fox Showaired for one season from 2013 to 2014: “I have challenges that come with Parkinson’s, but My experience tells me that I can deal with things through humor.”he explained at the time.
According to what the actor himself has related, in 1991 he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, however, it was not until 1998 that he made it public and a year later he began working on the creation of his foundation so that those who suffer from the same thing can have the opportunity for someone to listen to them.
“They had no money, they had no voice, and I thought I could step in in their place and make a fuss. It’s not a cure, but it’s a great reference point for where we should be heading. and what we should focus on to know that we are on the right path, and we are very proud,” commented the artist in an interview. CBS Mornings in 2023.
Furthermore, in another interview with People, Michael J. Fox He said that announcing publicly that he has Parkinson’s was very difficult for him, although he thought it was better for the public to know before the symptoms became impossible to hide.
“It was very hard. He didn’t want to talk about it, but given the nature of Parkinson’s, sooner or later it was going to become obvious.. I was very nervous. Todd Gold was very good. He said, ‘How can I tell this story, make the most of it for you, make the most of Parkinson’s disease, something I hadn’t thought about yet, what impact would it have on the community?’” she said.
In addition to this, the 63-year-old actor noted that he was very proud to speak openly about his illness because people understood his situation: “I am proud to have had the courage to talk about this and to be there to talk about it. And people took it seriously and treated it with a sense of seriousness and importance. Because really that , Not me, it changed the world a little,” he commented.
