To celebrate her 43rd birthday, Betsy Allen has created a Facebook fundraiser for the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, which is dedicated to spreading awareness and funding research for Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) and Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS).

While there was much mystery and speculation surrounding the exact nature of the condition which left Cookie Ambler paralyzed from the chest down, the last neurologist she visited believed that she had Primary Lateral Sclerosis. PLS is a rare motor neuron disease which is similar to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), but has a slower progression and longer life expectancy. It is theorized that 500 to 2,000 people in the USA have PLS.

The deadline for the fundraiser is Tuesday, April 1.

To donate to the fundraiser, go to https://www.facebook.com/donate/1850344189066082/10232696787495005

For more information about the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, go to https://sp-foundation.org