Michael J Fox, the 65-year-old Canadian-American actor, was presented with a humanitarian Emmy on Monday night for his extensive work advocating for individuals living with Parkinson's disease. The award, named the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, recognised his contributions to Parkinson’s research and advocacy.
Fox, who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s in his late 20s, established the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000. This foundation has since raised more than two billion dollars (£1.58 billion) to support research efforts.
During his acceptance speech, Fox reflected on his initial decision to keep his diagnosis private and the subsequent support he received. He stated that accepting Parkinson’s did not mean surrendering to it, but rather doing everything possible for others with the disease. He expressed pride in the progress made towards eradicating the disease and thanked staff, donors, researchers, and the patient community.