Celine Dion has donated $2 million to a hospital researching Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS).
The 56-year-old singer was forced to stop performing following her 2022 diagnosis of the rare condition — a progressive neurological disorder that affects her muscles — and she has now pledged a huge sum in a bid to find a cure.
Dion made the donation to University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where she is being treated by Dr. Amanda Piquet.
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Celine Dion shares footage of agonizing Stiff Person Syndrome seizure -
Celine Dion ignored early symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome
Amanda, a director of Autoimmune Neurology at CU Anschutz, told CBS News: “I am just incredibly honored to receive this recognition to move the field forward with this research.
“Stiff Person Syndrome is a progressive autoimmune neurological disorder that is characterized by two cardinal features – muscle spasms and stiffness.
“She [Celine] happened to find us, and it was a great relationship, and we worked really hard with her managing those symptoms, getting her on a good treatment pathway.
“There are no FDA-approved therapies for this disease. We often use immune therapies, and symptomatic therapies to manage the disease.
“We will also do things like physical therapy, massage therapy, and in Celine’s case vocal therapy to help manage the symptoms.”
Dion has shone a light on the disease in recent documentary ‘I Am: Celine Dion’, which included footage of her suffering a torturous 10-minute seizure caused by SPS.