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Docs honor Reno, Fox Philly.com May 10 2001 by April Adamson Daily News Staff Writer He still has the trademark swagger, the cracking voice, the vertically challenged stature that made him a star. But the man who has made millions laugh is also showing visible signs of a debilitating disease he's committed to battling. When Michael J. Fox sauntered to the podium yesterday at an annual awards luncheon of the American Academy of Neurology in Center City, it wasn't to push a new movie or promote a new show. Fox shook involuntarily, and his head wavered as he spoke about research, hope and all of the frightening mysteries of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's, a chronic progressive nervous disease, is marked by tremor and weakness of resting muscles and by a shuffling gait. "I'm hoping in whatever small way to highlight what you do," Fox told the myriad doctors, students and award-winners assembled before him. Fox, the keynote speaker, was honored along with former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, who also has Parkinson's. Reno received the academy's Public Leadership in Neurology Award for her "frank approach and dignity" in dealing with her 1995 diagnosis with Parkinson's in the face of public scrutiny. Reno, who was attorney general from 1993 to 2001, downplayed her diagnosis while in the public eye. Reno walked across stage in a a ruby-red suit yesterday, as nearly 1,300 luncheon attendees in the ballroom at the Center City Marriott gave her a standing ovation. She received her award and sat without addressing the group. "She reminds us that we all have choices in how we live with a chronic illness," said Dr. Sandra Olson, chair of the AAN Education and Research Foundation. "We honor the courage that she has displayed on a daily basis." Fox, who established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research after being diagnosed with the disease, has granted more than $1 million to doctors researching causes for the disease and treatments. He retired from his popular TV show "Spin City" last year to focus on battling the disease. Fox jokingly compared Hollywood lingo to medical acronyms and poked fun at himself, evoking welcome laughter at a serious event. "I was speaking with Janet Reno today who I'm a great admirer of. . . and a lot shorter than," Fox smiled. Fox, who hails from Canada, said he is writing a book about his battle with the disease. He hopes through his organization and the AAN to shed light on Parkinson's and on advance research. "I think revolutionary is an overused word," Fox said. "I'm not sure we need revolutionary. I'm sure evolution in treatments and options would be just fine. We don't so much need a giant leap as the next few steps." Send e-mail to [log in to unmask] http://web.realcities.com/content/rc/health/pchealth/philly/1955130272.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn