Michael J Fox - gave up his job to do his life's work

20 Jun 2012: I find Michael J. Fox one of the most inspiring people of our time as I think he really knows what it is to ‘live'.

It was in a recent interview that I saw on Channel 7's Sunday Night that he really cemented my belief in him. His integrity and value as a person is beyond the written word.

At the end of the interview he says, “I gave up my job, to do my life's work”

In his 20's Michael was in demand both on the small screen [Family Ties] and on the big screen [Back to the Future]. Then at the age of 29 Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, where neurons in the brain are damaged which result in uncontrollable twitches.

Michael was in denial and he thought the diagnosis was bulls#*t and he started drinking to hide from it. Michael kept his disease hidden for 7 years.

In 1998 he went public and started up a foundation that has raised over $285 million to date – the aim is to find researchers today who can get them closer to what they want – a cure. They are currently working on what triggers the causes of Parkinson's in order to benchmark Parkinson's.

Michael is now 50 years old and he takes medication to be comfortable and to be able to speak clearly.

Michael has also taken on TV roles where his characters have Parkinson's.

Michael says, he wouldn't change that he's got Parkinson's, as this path he's on is amazing!

A young Michael J. Fox