Community Rallies Behind Ridgewood Mom With MS

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — For the second time, the community is helping a mother of two suffering from progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

Leslie Linker, 46, is confined to a wheelchair. She cannot walk or stand. She was diagnosed with MS in 2003, just three months before her wedding.

A monthlong effort, dubbed "Lesleypalooza," has been started to raise $150,000 to help Linker and her family pay for their home and ongoing medical costs. More than $10,000 has already been donated.

Linker's husband moved out of the house in 2015 and the couple is getting divorced. Linker has continued to care for her two sons, ages 7 and 12.

Linker requires an around-the-clock home health aide at $6,000 a month, which is not covered by insurance.

"Through all of the heartbreak of recent years, Lesley has worked hard to maintain an optimistic outlook for her children, and is so grateful to be able to nurture and live with them — in their own home," said Anne Burton Walsh, founder of the Go Fund Me campaign. "With your support, we can work to alleviate Lesley’s outsized share of unfairness, sadness, humiliation and struggle."

The community rallied around Linker in 2015 and donated $62,000 to help her find a modest Ridgewood home with wheelchair access. The family has not been able to find one.

RELATED: Ridgewood Community Donates $62,000 To Help Mom With MS

Ten percent of the donations will be given to the Tisch MS Research Center of New York.

Anyone who wishes to write a check may make it out to Lesleypalooza LLC and send it to P.O. Box 373 Ridgewood NJ 07451-0373.

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Photo: Leslie Linker and her two sons. — Courtesy of Go Fund Me