Levittown resident Elizabeth Baquet was diagnosed with Primary Lateral Sclerosis two years ago. Rather than remaining idle while this progressive neurodegenerative disorder continues to affect her extremities, she decided to "join the effort to help find a cure."

Relying on a cane in order to walk, Baquet set out to raise awareness about her affliction and funds for the only nonprofit organization involved with the disorder, the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation.

"My favorite saying is 'It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness,'" Baquet said. "The community of people involved in the foundation, particularly the founders, have an incredible amount of commitment to finding a cure for these two diseases. I was inspired by their passion. I guess you could say it was my chance to ' light a candle.' It was also an opportunity for me to connect with people who are facing the same challenges I am facing. It's a wonderful forum providing support, information and friendship."

Her involvement with SPF prompted her to initiate the first TeamWalk Walk-a-Thon ever in New York State. Baquet has mustered 100 participants in the event, which will take place on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. Donors such as Panera Bread and HSBC Bank have donated bagels and water, respectively.

"The response has been wonderful," Baquet said. "There will be twice the amount of walkers I anticipated, and the amount of donations I've received has been overwhelming."

While searching the Internet for information on PLS, Baquet's sister, Mary Englert found the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation. Englert lives just across the street on Chickadee Lane in Levittown and is participating in the walk with her husband and five children.

"This is another condition that impacts people's lives quite severely," Englert said. "My sister was an executive and accomplished person and when this struck her this changed her life quite a bit."

According to her sister, Baquet has maintained a very positive spirit and is very optimistic about the walk-a-thon's outcome.

"We want to make it an annual event," Englert said. "Just to get pledges of support and to bring public awareness to it as well."

Baquet gets plenty of support from her remaining seven siblings as well, two of which also live in Levittown.

"I actually have three wonderful sisters, Mary, Patricia and Margaret, who constantly lend their support and encouragement and they've been instrumental in spreading awareness and raising money for research," Baquet said. "I also have five brothers who have also played a critical role in the success of this event. I consider myself very lucky to have been blessed with a supportive family."

Since the SPF was founded in 2002, the national convention has been held annually for three years in a row. The New York TeamWalk Connection is the latest addition to the growing list of states jumping on board to raise funds for research on two very rare neuro-muscular disorders, Primary Lateral Sclerosis and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. The SPF is the only nonprofit organization in the country dedicated to these disorders. For more information or to make a donation visit www.sp-foundation.org. To participate in the walk, visit http://www.sp-foundation.org/TeamWalk05/TWConnection-NY.htm or email betsy.baquet@sp-foundation.org.

Baquet and her husband Eddie have lived in Levittown for 15 years. They have three children, Joseph, 14, Eddie, 12 and Natalie, 4. Baquet is currently a stay-at-home mother.

"Eddie has helped me to find my inner strength so that I can overcome this adversity and grow from it," Baquet said. "He has been very supportive and helpful in my endeavor to make this a successful event."