J.K. Rowling Gives $15.4M for MS Center

(CBS/AP)  Author J.K. Rowling has given $15.4 million (£10 million) to set up a clinic to treat and research multiple sclerosis, the disease that killed her mother.

The creator of boy wizard Harry Potter said Tuesday that the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, named after her mother, will be based at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. It will also study other degenerative neurological conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Rowling said she hopes the clinic will become "a world center for excellence in the field of regenerative neurology."

Multiple sclerosis affects about 100,000 people in Britain, and Scotland has one of the world's highest rates of the disease. Its causes are not fully understood, although both genetics and environmental factors are thought to play a part.

The university said Rowling's gift is the largest single donation it has received.

Rowling is a longtime resident of the Scottish capital, and began writing the Harry Potter books when she was a cash-strapped single mother in the city.

"Edinburgh has given me so very much that I have been looking for a way to give something meaningful back to the city for a long time," Rowling said in a statement.

"I cannot think of anything more important, or of more lasting value, than to help the university attract world-class minds in the field of neuroregeneration, to build on its long and illustrious history of medical research and, ultimately, to seek a cure for a very Scottish disease."

Rowling's mother died from complications related to MS in 1990, before the writer struck fame with her novels about the orphaned wizard. She has said her mother's death influenced one of the series' main themes - a child dealing with loss.

Rowling recently turned 45, the age her mother was when she died.

"I know that she would rather have had her name on this clinic than on any statue, flower garden or commemorative plaque, so this donation is on her behalf, too; and in gratitude for everything she gave me in her far-too-short life," Rowling said.

The seven Harry Potter books have sold more than 400 million copies and spawned a hit movie franchise and a theme park. Forbes magazine has ranked Rowling as one of the richest women in Britain, with an estimated wealth of $1 billion.

[Scimajor]

Forgive me if this is a double post. Darn CBS website!

"I spent 7 years........ killing child slavers...."

How incredibly selective about what parts of your book you follow. I do believe "Thou shalt not kill" is rather high on the somewhat famous "list of 10 things not to do before you die".

You blatantly disregard your god's biggest rule yet you call a person who writes books evil. YIKES! I sense a rather warm future for you.

You're the type of person that people should fear. Not Rowling.

[ouchitatom]

It is written in the word of God not to dabble in support or teach sorcery magic or consult with astrology or mediums. Yet this woman spun all the evil into billions and now gives a measly 15million. Hah!This piddly amount won't last that clinic three years for research if inded it all goes toward research. I admit she is trying to do some good however what amount of damage to minds of Gods babies has she done and where will it take the young adult who refelects back on those writings and spins themselves into a world of fantasy and never fully matures toward thier Creator . The damage is awspiring and hopefully will die out with the ages.The parents of the children are just as much if not more to blame for supporting blasphemy caped in fun and adventure by allowing thier children to jump on that proverbial bandwagon.

[Scimajor]

Thanks for the truly wonderful example of the intolerance and, to be blunt, pure idiocy of religion.

You claim to preach tolerance and understanding yet you attack a delightful piece of fiction. You call her works evil yet I'd be willing to bet that you have a figure of a tortured and disfigured corpse that is nailed to some wood hanging on one of the walls in your house. Sorry but forcing children to look at such a disgusting image is evil.

I think this is very much a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Oh and yes I agree that she perpetrated an terrible injustice on the world by inspiring millions of children to read rather than sit in front of a television. Goodness knows we don't want children reading. Reading is, of course, evil.

Please thump your book elsewhere.

[royalstar05]

15.4 million! Please, with her cash she should have given 100 mill. Its all for looks and tax purposes with these people.