Letter to the Editor: Laps For Legs

Hello Family & Friends,

I am starting to prepare for my Bar-Mitzvah on November 18, 2012.  I decided for my mitzvah project that I want to raise money for a rare neuromuscular joint disorder called Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia.  Do you know that I have this disorder?  

My mom & dad recently explained the name of the problem I have with the lower part of my legs.  We went online and read all about my disorder.  As you know, I had surgery three years ago to help my legs feel better.  I know this can be temporary because it can get worse but I’m doing well, my legs don’t feel as tight anymore.  

When I was younger, kids teased me because I couldn’t run as fast as them and I didn’t play sports because my legs were too tight which caused me to trip and fall a lot, they just weren’t fit for running.  My doctors said swimming was the best form of exercise for me legs so I have been swimming since I was two years old and I’m really good at it.  It’s so much fun and my legs feel great in the water.  

That is why I decided to do a Swim-A-Thon to help raise money to finding a cure for Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, also known as HSP.

I hope you will support me in a Swim-A-Thon I will be doing on April 21 that I have named, “LAPS FOR LEGS”.  New York Sports Club in Garnerville, NY—20 West Ramapo Road, Garnerville—is sponsoring this event from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.  I will swim as many laps as I can in two hours, but no more than 100 laps.  The money raised will go toward research in finding a cure for HSP.  Here are a few ways you can help sponsor me.    

• Sending a one time fixed donation
• Pledging a per lap amount—you name amount per lap (Just so you know, I will probably swim the 100 laps)
• You and/or your child can ask people to sponsor you and swim along side of me.  We can raise so much more money if you swim with me. Please let my mom know if you or your child will also be swimming laps with me.  

Do you know some kids have this disorder so bad that they are in wheelchairs or they walk on crutches?  I consider myself to be so lucky because I don’t have it that bad.  I do know that it can get worse for me as I get older.  Did you also know my dad has the same deleted gene?  But I’m the only one who shows symptoms.  Even though this caused so much difficulty for me, I continue to have a positive attitude and believe in myself as my mom tells me almost every single day.

Although there is currently no cure for HSP, I hope me, my fellow buddies and all of mom and dad’s friends can help me.  In the last seven years, the HSP Foundation has raised over $2 million, with over 90 percent of it going to research.  I understand there are many fundraisers and charities to donate money to but I’m asking for you to please help me come closer to finding a cure fro HSP.  You will be doing a great deed and I will be so grateful!!!  

Thank you for your support!

Zachary Lipson, 12—New City

• Please make checks out to the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation” and send to the Lipson’s at 90 Crum Creek Rd, New City, NY 10956

• SPF is a non-profit 501(c)3 ---Tax ID# 04-3594491

• *We will send checks to HSP Foundation* 

To learn more about HSP, please click here.