Michael J. Fox Is ‘Proud and Honored’ of His Parkinson’s Fight After Receiving Presidential Medal of Freedom
“I still believe with all my heart we will eliminate Parkinson's disease,” the actor said
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Michael J. Fox is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Joe BidenMichael J. Fox is reflecting on his devotion to eliminating Parkinson’s disease after being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
On Saturday, Jan. 4., the Back to the Future actor was one of the array of individuals that President Joe Biden bestowed the nation’s highest civilian honor to at the White House.
The 63-year-old later shared photos from the event on Instagram, expressing his gratitude.
“On behalf of the million or so people living with Parkinson's, and the millions more who love them, I am proud and honored to accept the Medal of Freedom from President Biden,” he wrote. “No doubt I get the most attention in the PD community, but this is our fight and support and recognition on this level is a great boost.”
“I still believe with all my heart we will eliminate Parkinson's disease and all who have joined in the fight will have played a part in the victory,” he added. “Thank you. With Hope and Gratitude, Michael J. Fox.”
Michael J Fox/Instagram
Michael J. Fox with his family after being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Joe BidenThe PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is "presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors," according to the White House.
"President Biden believes great leaders keep the faith, give everyone a fair shot, and put decency above all else. These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made America and the world a better place," the White House added. "They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world."
Fox was first diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991 and went public with his diagnosis in 1998. Two years later, he developed the Michael J. Fox Foundation to aid with research. The organization has raised nearly two billion dollars to date in its quest for a cure for the disease — and they've made significant advancements: In 2023, they found a biomarker that can help determine if people have Parkinson's before symptoms start.
"It was one of the few times I cried about what we were doing," Fox told PEOPLE in April 2024. "We wanted to find a way that we can diagnose the disease before the symptoms are there. Because then we could treat it, and you'd never have it. It was a big break — and a great moment."
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Looking back on the vulnerable moment he went public with his diagnosis in a PEOPLE magazine cover story, Fox admitted that he was “nervous” going into it but the impact was instantaneous — and massive.
"It was an amazing time because the response was great," he recalled. "The response was loving and supportive, and I really couldn't have been... It was a payoff for all the stuff I'd done through the years."
"I'm proud that I had the courage to talk about this, and to be out there with it," he said at the time. "And PEOPLE took it seriously and treated it with a sense of gravitas and importance. Because it’s really — it, not me — changed the world a little bit."
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