One of my personal heroes, Dolly Parton, has been instrumental in Moderna’s development of the latest Coronavirus vaccine. It has been shown in early clinical trials to be 94.5% effective in fighting the illness. And Dolly is one of the people who made it happen.
The icon, in fact, donated around $1 million to the development of the vaccine via her Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund, which she created in April. You can read more about her contribution to this scientific milestone in the New England Journal of Medicine.
When she created the fund in the spring, she posted this on her Instagram:
“My longtime friend Dr Naji Abumrad, who’s been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards that research of the coronavirus for a cure. I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations.”
She met Dr. Abumrad six years ago when he treated her for injuries that she sustained in a car accident.
During the pandemic, she also launched Goodnight With Dolly, a bedtime story series on YouTube, beginning with a reading of The Little Engine That Could. She said she hoped the series would be “a welcome distraction during a time of unrest, and inspire a love of reading and books”.
Is there anything Dolly can’t do? She is so inspiring to me, and doesn’t let anything stand in her way of what she wants to do. She also selflessly gives and helps people. I am going to leave you with one of my favorite Dolly quotes:
“I’m not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.”
Do you have any personal heroes?
