As the evening kicked into gear, Ali’s wife, Lonnie, reminded everybody of the event’s goal.
Unfortunately we have a tendency to cater to the newest sad story in the news as opposed to allotting our attention to multiple movements. It helps to have a larger than life spokesman in Muhammed Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay.
Since its Inception in 1994, Celebrity Fight Night has helped raise more than $70 million. And you can add $9.1 million dollars to that amount raising their total over the last eight years to a little under $80 million. This years event set a record high with 1,200 people in attendance.
Arizona Cardinals star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was honored at the event for his outstanding community service. Fitzgerald has done countless events for kids health and enriching the community; Fitzgerald led his Cardinals to the Superbowl in 2009.
The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center (MAPC) and Movement Disorders Clinic is a National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, and a wonderful resource for people with Parkinson’s and their families. The Center was established in 1997 by Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Walker, a Phoenix philanthropist, and Dr. Abraham Lieberman.
The Ali Foundation was started short after the former heavy weight champion was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1984.
Ali was a revolutionary boxer whose radical thinking and charismatic finesse in the ring helped revolutionize the sport. He was the bad boy and liked playing the aggressor but always had a smile and jokes for the media. He was the first fighter to sell out crowds in Africa with his infamous “Rumble in the Jungle” in Zaire. Despite his endless efforts Ali never gave in and has helped raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s.
The progressive disorder of the brain can cause tremors, rigidity, poor posture and coordination, and difficulty performing voluntary movements.
“It’s a real delight to come out here and raise money for Parkinson’s and attend such a great show. It’s easy for me to say, ‘I’m there, let’s go,’ ” Hanks said. “It’s very easy to show up for something like this.”
Tom Hanks said “Ali is a hero who is fighting the good fight”. He’s right and he’s always fought the good fight in opting out of the Vietnam War and standing behind his faith and religious views despite public scrutiny.
It would be nice if all of our social movements were led by Evander Holyfield and Mr. Ali but they’re not. That isn’t to say that we can not unite or gather to bring awareness to social issues, its to use them as examples. They have been consistent, honest, hard workers, and relentless.
I look to embody their spirit, like Tom Hanks said lets fight the good fight.
