Powering Cures With Pure Human Endurance

Description

What are the limits of human endurance? How far can one person go? And what’s it worth to you to find out? For Sam Fox, 25, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), it’s worth everything: speeding a cure for a disease that affects 1 million Americans, including Sam’s mom, Lucy. In 2011 Sam ran 2,650 miles from Canada to Mexico in 61 days — the equivalent of 1.5 marathons a day for two months. His physical effort translated into $170,000 in Parkinson’s research. At SXSW, Sam will again test his physical bounds — this time, by running and biking as long and fast as possible to power a cell phone charging station with the energy he generates. Just as MJFF questions the traditional research enterprise and innovates to improve patients’ lives, Sam is using feats of physicality to question the status quo — while challenging and inspiring young people to instigate change in their own unique way.

Questions Answered

How does Sam hope to progress Parkinson’s research by powering a charging station?
How does the Michael J. Fox Foundation work?
How close are we to a cure, anyway?
Why should I care about Parkinson’s?
How can I get involved?