Question 1

What is Spastic Paraplegia-52 (SPG52)?

Accepted Answer

Spastic Paraplegia-52 (SPG52)  is an ultra-rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the AP4S1 gene, which disrupts how neurons transport proteins.

This disruption affects brain development and movement, causing progressive disability.

Question 2

How rare is it?

Accepted Answer

Fewer than 60 children worldwide are known to have SPG52.

Because it’s so rare, there are no approved treatments and very little research funding. Families themselves must raise money to advance the science.

Question 3

How does SPG52 affect a child's development?

Accepted Answer

Children often miss developmental milestones like crawling, walking, or speaking.

Most experience: 
 • Severe developmental delays
 • Intellectual disabilities
 • Little or no speech
 • Seizures
 • Spasticity (muscle stiffness/tightness)
 • Eventual loss of walking and use of arms/hands

Without treatment, daily life means therapies, hospital visits, and watching abilities decline.

Question 4

Why is there hope?

Accepted Answer

Researchers at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) (https://micromecenatge.uab.cat/terapiagenicaparaplegia)have spent 6 years developing a gene therapy for SPG52. 
They’ve already:
 • Built a mouse model that mimics the disease.
 • Created a gene therapy vector carrying a healthy copy of the AP4S1 gene.
 • Shown it works in mice and in neurons grown from patient stem cells.

The science is real, and the therapy is nearly ready for children.

Question 5

What is gene therapy?

Accepted Answer

Gene therapy treats disease by fixing, replacing, or switching off the genes that cause it. Doctors deliver new genetic instructions into a person’s cells. The cell reads those instructions and makes the right protein, or stops making a harmful one.​

SPG52 is caused by harmful changes in the AP4S1 gene. A gene-replacement approach would deliver a functional AP4S1 to restore the missing AP-4 protein function in key cells.

Gene therapy targets the root cause, not just symptoms. One treatment can have long-lasting effects because cells keep using the new instructions, however it will not undo damage that has already happened - and that's why time is critical.

Question 6

Have other gene therapies been successful?

Accepted Answer

Yes, gene therapy has achieved success in treating certain genetic disease such as Sever Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID), Huntington's Disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, among others.

Gene therapy is a rapidly evolving field with the potential to treat a wide range of genetic diseases. As research progresses, it is expected that gene therapy will become even more successful and accessible to patients.

More close to home, a parallel project, Melpida, developed by the Pirovolakis family for a similar disorder (SPG50), successfully reached clinical trials in just three years — entirely through grassroots fundraising.

Early results from SickKids Hospital in Toronto show disease progression has stopped and motor skills improved in the first treated child.

Melpida’s success shows what’s possible when communities unite.

Question 7

What's next?

Accepted Answer

Before children can be treated, regulators require safety and toxicity studies in primates.

These studies are essential but costly.

Question 8

What will my donation help fund?

Accepted Answer

Every dollar raised directly supports:
 • Toxicology and safety studies
 • Regulatory submission to Spain’s AEMPS
 • Manufacturing of clinical-grade viral vector
 • Launch of the first-ever human SPG52 trial

Question 9

Who is doing the fundraising?

Accepted Answer

No pharmaceutical company is investing in research because there’s no commercial market. That means the families of SPG52 patients themselves must raise the money to drive progress.

A parallel project, Melpida, developed by the Pirovolakis family for a similar disorder (SPG50), successfully reached clinical trials in just three years — entirely through grassroots fundraising.

Question 10

Who else is fundraising?

Accepted Answer

There are many families of SPG52 patients that are fundraising to support the same gene therapy research:

Irina - Romania 
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573956416205 (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573956416205)

Samuel - Spain
https://www.facebook.com/corropormarinaysamuel (https://www.facebook.com/corropormarinaysamuel)

Abril - Spain
https://www.laluchadeabril.net/ (https://www.laluchadeabril.net/)

Helia - Spain
https://www.instagram.com/unrayodeluzparahelia/ (https://www.instagram.com/unrayodeluzparahelia/)
https://unrayodeluzparahelia.org/

Question 11

Where does the money go?

Accepted Answer

It is managed transparently with nonprofit collaboration.

Donations go directly into a "project" on GoFundMe Pro sponsored by the non-profit Rare Village. Once directed, Rare Village will release the funds only to the designated location, the UAB research team and clinical partners directly working on SPG52 gene therapy.

Question 12

Are donations tax deductible?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In thanks to the Rare Village Foundation and GoFundMe Pro, you can make a tax-deductible donation.
​
You will receive a receipt to the email address you provide when donating. The receipt will include your donation details, such as the date, amount, and any beneficiary information.

Question 13

How can I help?

Accepted Answer

Give now and share
 • Donate! Every. single. dollar. counts. towards a guaranteed gene therapy. It's not a matter of IF, but *when* we have the funds, and making *when* happen *as fast as possible* is most crucial for Leo.
 • Text this website personally to five people with a short ask
 • Drop this website in your group chats and ask them to keep the chain going by sharing with others
 • Use the email/text templates and flyers at leoslight.org/help (www.leoslight.org/help)to spread the word to your friends, family, work, gym, and faith communities.

Post, pin, and repeat
 • Share and pin leoslight.org to your Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, LinkedIn, and Nextdoor.
 • Birthdays and holidays are great ways to ask your community for a donation in your name.

Place the cause where people pay
 • Ask your coffee shop, gym, church, school, salon, and favorite restaurant to display the flyer or a counter card with the QR code.
 • Add a round-up jar labeled “Help fund SPG52 gene therapy for Leo.”

Become a monthly donor
 • Pick $15, $35, or $100 per month.
 • Monthly gifts keep researchers on schedule and protect Leo’s time window.

Unlock company matching
 • Submit your receipt to your employer match portal.
 • If no portal exists, email HR to request a one-time match for this fundraiser.

Make three warm introductions
 • Connect us to a company leader, a clinic or therapy practice, and a local reporter.

Host a micro-event this month
 • Examples: dinner party, trivia night, yoga class, porch concert, bake sale.
 • Sell tickets or suggest a donation.

Sponsor a match day
 • Pledge a cap (for example, $2,500). We will announce that all gifts today are doubled until the cap is met.

Offer professional skills or in-kind
 • High impact needs: PR, video, design, volunteering, silent auction items.

Visit www.leoslight.org/help (www.leoslight.org/help)for email/text templates and flyers.

Download FAQs