WASHINGTON -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who is battling a deadly form of brain cancer, will be presented with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award Sunday night during a celebration of his 77th birthday.

Kennedy has been nominated for the award over the years, but was not eligible for the honor while he served on the Profile in Courage Award selection committee. This year, members of the committee were unanimous in their decision to present Kennedy with the award that celebrates his brother’s legacy, the John F. Kennedy Library said in statement

“His passionate advocacy on behalf of civil rights, human rights, voting rights, economic, social and environmental justice – and his long battle to achieve quality affordable health care for all Americans – are each deserving of an award," said Caroline Kennedy, president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.

"Knowing how much Uncle Teddy enjoys celebrating his birthday, the members of the Profile in Courage Award Committee determined that that this would be an appropriate time to present this award for political courage to the American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country.”

Caroline Kennedy will make the formal presentation of the award at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

The senator returned to Washington last week from Florida where had been recuperating from his illness to attend a White House summit on health care reform.

The Profile in Courage Award is presented annually to public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience.