OUR GOAL

I am excited to kick off my second year participating in the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation's #HSPandPLS Run, Walk, or Roll 5K!

Please consider making a donation of any amount to support this important cause and help me reach — or exceed — my fundraising goal. The Spastic Paraplegia Foundation (SPF) is a fully volunteer-run organization, and more than 93% of all donations go directly toward research and programs that support individuals and families affected by Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) and Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS).

Every donation brings us one step closer to better treatments and, ultimately, helping the genetic research taking place today find a cure.

MY JOURNEY

Last year, I was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), specifically SPG7. Before my diagnosis, I had never even heard of HSP. Since then, I have been learning how to navigate life with a rare neurological disease while also managing an overlapping autoimmune condition that continues to make walking and mobility a daily challenge.

This journey has taught me a great deal about resilience, patience, and the importance of celebrating progress. While there is currently no cure, I have found a routine that helps me stay active and moving forward. I focus on strength, balance, endurance, and neuroplasticity—helping my brain and body create new pathways and adapt. Through a combination of medical treatments, exercise, and holistic therapies, I continue to work toward living my fullest life.

I am incredibly grateful for the love and support of my family. They have helped me embrace this "new normal" while reminding me that I am still me. I may move a little slower these days, but my passion for helping others and staying engaged in life remains as strong as ever.

Since retiring, I have returned to tutoring, something I have enjoyed for more than 20 years. This summer I will be working with four students, helping them build confidence and skills while continuing to do work that I love.

I have also found purpose through volunteering. I serve on the Kids & Teens Committee for the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, where I have helped create educational resources for families navigating life with HSP. In addition, I volunteer with Being Positioned, a nonprofit organization that grants dream vacations to adults living with rare diseases, giving them an opportunity to step away from medical appointments and daily challenges and simply enjoy life. Supporting these organizations has been both meaningful and rewarding, and it has allowed me to give back in ways I always hoped I would after retirement.

While I have SPG7, it does not define who I am.

I continue to travel, spend time in nature, volunteer, tutor, and make memories with my family. Our next adventure is a family trip to Iceland this July, where we plan to complete the SPF 5K in one of the most beautiful and unique places on Earth.

This disease is hard. There are still difficult days, and there are moments of grief for the life I once took for granted. But I continue to move forward. I continue to adapt. I continue to live fully.

I may walk a little slower and a little more awkwardly than before, but I am still living the life I love.

Thank you for supporting me, supporting SPF, and supporting the search for better treatments and a cure. Together, we can make a difference.