Thursday 20 January 2000
By eBroadcast Staff and agencies.

Speaking on a entertainment news show in the States, Fox says "During the Christmas break I was away and I took some time off over the vacation...it just felt terrific. And I just started thinking...the more I do it ('Spin City'), the more I have to postpone getting involved with Parkinson's advocacy, and I can't do both."

"Yesterday was the big day," Fox continues. "Yesterday was the day I spoke to the cast; I spoke to the writers and the crew. It's difficult to be the agent of change in so many people's lives. The thing is I can do the job. It's not a case where I've hit a wall and said 'I can't do this anymore.' I think that they knew that...I really feel I've got some important stuff to do."

Fox also explains his current condition, "Certainly it's a progressive disease so that it changes...it doesn't get better, you know. But at the same time it hasn't debilitated me. So I thought if that time comes, if it comes when my ability to do things is severely impaired more than it is now, if I'm in the middle of a show or the middle of a season than I have no choices. So I wanted to make the choice while I could. It wasn't about taking a turn. I didn't suddenly take a turn. I'd love people to know it wasn't a major turn, it wasn't like I hit a wall. I feel good and I'm happy and I have energy...and there's stuff to do...I don't curse the gods about this. This is what was in the book for me."

"I happen to believe there is a god and perhaps I'm in this position so I could do something. I've been talking to the people at the Parkinson's Action Network about joining and forming a new foundation and that's what I'm excited about. ... I'm just one person in this community of people that have this problem and that's humbling. And that kind of humility is never a bad thing."