Epilepsy Foundation to Host Walk to END EPILEPSY® on the National Mall

Join Greg Grunberg, Rick Harrison, Joe Clair and DJ Non-Chalant to Raise Funds in Support of the 3.4 Million People Living with Epilepsy in the U.S.

News provided by

Epilepsy Foundation

Apr 08, 2019, 08:00 ET

LANDOVER, Md., April 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Epilepsy Foundation is hosting its Walk to END EPILEPSY® - D.C. on Saturday, April 27, on the National Mall. For the past 13 years, the Epilepsy Foundation has hosted its annual Walk on the National Mall drawing thousands of people from nearby communities and different parts of the country. In August 2018, the Foundation adopted the Walk to END EPILEPSY (launched in Los Angeles by the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles) and is gradually rolling it out nationwide to provide a platform for people with epilepsy and their families to create awareness, share their stories, help educate others, and raise funds to END EPILEPSY. The Walk to END EPILEPSY will feature Greg Grunberg, Rick Harrison, Joe Clair and DJ Non-Chalant, all of whom support the Epilepsy Foundation's mission.

Over a lifetime, one in 10 people will have a seizure, and one in 26 will be diagnosed with epilepsy. In the U.S., there are more than twice as many people who live with epilepsy than with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and cystic fibrosis, combined. Yet, epilepsy receives one-tenth the research funding than any one of those neurological disorders.

"The nationwide Walk to END EPILEPSY is about taking action together to affect change through care, advocacy, research and education," said Geoff Delizzio, chief development officer, Epilepsy Foundation. "This premiere event in Washington, D.C., has historically been our largest fundraiser of the year. It creates a lasting impact for families affected by epilepsy and seizures. We are so excited that more than 40 cities — and growing — around the country will now be hosting a Walk to END EPILEPSY to raise funds for efforts in their local communities."

In 2018, more than 2,700 participants attended the Walk on the National Mall and raised $1,115,375 to fund: services for people living with epilepsy; training on proper seizure recognition and first aid; advocacy to ensure health care options remain strong for people living with seizures; research for better treatments and cures; new local offices to serve regions previously underserved; as well as support for nearly nine million users on epilepsy.com and 250,000 social media followers.

Other personalities at this year's Walk to END EPILEPSY – D.C. include DEM Raider Boyz (Eleanor Roosevelt High School) who competed on NBC's "World of Dance" and the Manassas Park High School Cougar Marching Band and Drumline.

The Walk to END EPILEPSY - D.C. is expected to attract more than 3,000 people and raise at least $1 million to help the more than 3.4 million people living with epilepsy in the U.S. The event's Walkers Village will feature the Big Brain Exhibit (a giant, walk-through inflatable big brain); a "PurpleRouge" tent where participants can decorate their attire, adorn themselves and their accessories with the colors of END EPILEPSY; and a Remembrance Wall with Memorial Flags to honor those who lost their lives to epilepsy-related causes, like sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

Everyone who participates virtually or in person at any Walk to END EPILEPSY — by leading a team, making a donation, sponsoring the event or volunteering — is making an impact for people with epilepsy. For those who want to participate, but do not live close to a Walk to END EPILEPSY location, they can create a Virtual Team. To sign up for the Walk to END EPILEPSY - D.C. please visit WalkforEpilepsy.org. To find a Walk to END EPILEPSY in your region, please visit WalktoEndEpilepsy.org.

About Epilepsy
According to the World Health Organization, epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder worldwide with no age, racial, social class, national or geographic boundaries. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3.4 million people in the United States are affected by epilepsy. It is the underlying tendency of the brain to produce seizures which are sudden abnormal bursts of electrical energy that disrupt brain functions.

About the Epilepsy Foundation
With a network of nearly 50 partners throughout the United States, the Foundation connects people to treatment, support and resources; leads advocacy efforts; funds innovative research and the training of specialists; and educates the public about epilepsy and seizure first aid. For more than five decades, the Epilepsy Foundation has shone a light on epilepsy to promote awareness and understanding, and to advocate for laws that matter to people with epilepsy, while also funding $65 million for epilepsy research and supporting 3,076 epilepsy investigators and specialists in their early careers. Over the past 17 years, in partnership with the CDC, the Epilepsy Foundation has helped to improve access to care for people with epilepsy, expanded its digital reach and online resources in homes across the country, and trained more than 500,000 school and community personnel in how to recognize seizures and administer seizure first aid. The Foundation has also assisted more than 108,000 people through its 24/7 Helpline in the past five years, and continues to focus on innovation, new therapies, community services, advocacy and education as key priorities. To learn more visit epilepsy.com or call 1.800.332.1000. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Epilepsy Foundation