Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, Inc.

On October 19th, I will be running the Brooklyn Half Marathon! 

In 2008, my Dad was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), a rare, neuromuscular disorder caused primarily by degeneration of the upper motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Patients experience increasing spasticity and weakness of their voluntary muscles. Currently, PLS is estimated to impact between 1,000-2,000 people in the world. I'm raising money to benefit the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, Inc. (SPF), the only organization in the Americas dedicated to finding a cure for PLS. Any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me and my family!

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More information about Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, Inc. (SPF) : The Spastic Paraplegia Foundation is committed to promoting research to find cures for Primary Lateral Sclerosis and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, to educating people and their families affected by these conditions to help them live full and productive lives and to creating opportunities for mutual support and sharing.

As I am starting the countdown to my next adventure, I was reminded today that I am not grateful enough for my health and physical abilities. When I wake up each morning I am able to get out of my bed and walk to my bathroom without even thinking about it. Can you imagine waking up one morning and feeling like your body is holding you prisoner in bed? Can you imagine losing all your abilities after being a healthy person? Having to think about taking one step without falling and/or crashing a bone? 

Today was Rare Disease Day 2017. If you are healthy and able please support those who are not! I watch my child struggle every morning to get out of his bed after being the kid who jumps out of bed and there is nothing I can do about it to help him.

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) is a group of rare inherited neurological disorders that are progressive and cause patients to be unable to walk, and more. In its uncomplicated form, HSP is characterized by progressive lower extremity weakness and spasticity. Complicated types affect other body parts and have more severe neurological damage. HSP is caused by degeneration (slow deterioration and death) of motor nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary movement (in some ways similar to ALS). As the degeneration continues, spasticity and weakness increase. There is no way to predict the rate of progression or the severity of symptoms. No treatments are currently available to prevent, stop, or reverse HSP.

Please help us raise some money for the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation (SPF) to support HSP research. 

The primary focus of SPF is to raise funds to support research to find the causes, treatments and cures for Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and Primary Lateral Sclerosis.

Ibrahim and other children with rare disease depend on you! Show them that there is love and hope out there!