POTATO PANTS - Together Against Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP)
Potato Pants makes HSP accessible–it is our ‘ice bucket challenge’, but with one main advantage: Potato Pants at least actually relates to the experience that HSPers have ... No! We’re not saying that people who don’t have HSP can ever know what it feels like, but waddling around in awkward, bulky, heavy pants where they are slow, off-balance, and get tired quickly will hopefully cause people to stop and think that it must be pretty tough going for HSPers. Some of the biggest insights come when they take the pants off, when they realize that HSPers are stuck permanently in their Potato Pants. People can get their heads around it, and they can remember it–unlike Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia – which is a long name and a bit scary sounding. It allows people to get involved, to participate. |
What is Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP)?
HSP is an inherited genetic disorder that is caused by mutations in genes. There is a communication problem: the muscles in the lower limbs get the signal to move either too late, too weakly or not at all. It is characterized by impaired walking due to spasticity and weakness of the legs. An important point is that this disease is progressive, which means that it will get worse, to the point of possibly being wheelchair dependent. Currently, there is no cure but Potato Pants intends to change that.