Fox makes best of 9/ 11 anniversary
Charity Day turns ‘ negative energy’ of 9/ 11 into ‘ positive show of support’ for affected community, Burnaby- raised actor says
Michael J. Fox spent Sept. 11 in New York at the Charity Day fundraiser, which benefited, among others, the actor’s Parkinson’s research foundation.
NEW YORK — Michael J. Fox was doing his part to make the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2011, about helping others.
The actor spent Tuesday participating in the Cantor Fitzgerald Charity Day, along with a host of other celebrities. Cantor Fitzgerald, the financial firm that lost 658 employees in the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, has marked the anniversary of that day by raising funds for charities. This year, more than 100 are expected to benefit.
“This is not necessarily a sombre event. I think this is more of a celebration, a celebration of humanity, and an acknowledgment of the needs of the people in the community,” the Burnaby- raised actor said Monday. “On a day when so many were affected by so few in such a negative way, it’s a great way for so few ... to help the wider community in kind of reverse — the energy of that day, the negative energy of that day, with a positive show of support for the community.”
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research is among the day’s beneficiaries. Fox has been afflicted by the disease for years, is a strong supporter of stem cell research and has lobbied in Washington in his battle to eradicate Parkinson’s disease.
Fox said he was grateful for the support from the financial community: “I like to joke that Alex Keaton was the role model for so many of these guys, so maybe they had a special place in their hearts for me and my work,” referring to the capitalist- loving character on Family Ties that made him famous some three decades ago.
Fox is returning to sitcoms after a decade- long absence. He’s working with NBC on a show that will touch on his Parkinson’s struggles. It is set to debut next year.
“NBC has been really supportive of the idea ... and obviously shown that they’re willing to take a chance on us,” he said.
Fox took time off from television while he was dealing with Parkinson’s, which degrades the central nervous system and can cause slurred speech and impaired motor skills. But Fox said his condition is good. “I was just feeling better and things are working for me medication- wise, and I just thought, ‘ Why don’t I take this opportunity to do it?’ I wake up every day and I feel good and if I don’t go forward with something like this, it’s another day wasted when I should be doing what I’m doing.”