On this Independence Day, we celebrate American exceptionalism with the incredible story of Jimmy Choi. This amazing man with true warrior grit ran the “American Ninja Warrior” obstacle course on Monday. It was amazing that Jimmy was even to take on the notoriously tough run at the Kansas City qualifiers because he has Parkinson’s disease.
Despite struggling to complete everyday simple tasks such as buttoning his shirt or tying his shoes, Jimmy took on the daunting obstacle course. Choi was only 27-years-old when he was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease, but he learned that exercise helped ease the debilitating symptoms. Jimmy has completed 13 marathons, 76 half-marathons, and several triathlons as of last year despite it feeling like he’s dragging a five-pound weight and having his muscles cramp easily when he runs.
The 41-year-old tech consultant from Bolingbrook, Illinois not only had his wife and kids cheering him on but also had the support of Michael J. Fox. The “Back to the Future” actor gave Jimmy a pep talk before he attempted to run the challenging course. Jimmy was not able to complete the course, but he put up quite a fight. Not only has he become an amazing source of inspiration, but he also raised more than $100,000 for actor Michael J. Fox’s foundation, which funds research into the disease.
If you’d like to donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation you can do so here.