WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - April 02, 2015) - The Epilepsy Foundation's 9th Annual National Walk for Epilepsy is expected to draw thousands of people -- including individuals who live with seizures as well as their families, friends, and caregivers -- to the National Mall on Saturday, April 11, 2015 for a three-mile non-competitive walk to help raise epilepsy awareness.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting nearly 3 million people in the U.S.; one in every 10 people will have a seizure in their lifetime. Since its inception in 2007, the National Walk for Epilepsy has raised nearly $10 million to advance access to care, fund research and new therapies, and educate people about seizures and epilepsy.
WHAT: The Epilepsy Foundation is holding its 9th Annual National Walk for Epilepsy to help support the Foundation's mission to lead the fight to stop seizures and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), find a cure, and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy.
Various activities for people with epilepsy, their family members, and friends will be taking place on the National Mall during the Walk. Highlights include:
- Ask the Experts: a Q&A session with top neurologists fielding questions from Walk participants. The 2015 panel will feature Dr. Miya Asato, Dr. Angel W. Hernandez, and Dr. Karen L. Parko, and will be moderated by Wendy Miller, PhD, RN, CCRN.
- Social Media Lounge: an area where participants can get their picture taken. Photos will be shared on the Epilepsy Foundation's Facebook and Instagram pages, and visitors are encouraged to share photos on their own social streams with the hashtag EpilepsyWalk.
- Walkers' Village: an area comprising sponsor booths, including the main Epilepsy Foundation booth, where participants can gather information and enter giveaways from corporate supporters and partner organizations.
WHEN: Saturday, April 11, 2015. The opening program begins at 8:15 a.m., and the Walk kicks off at 9 a.m.
WHERE: The National Mall, Washington, D.C.
Start line: 15th and Independence Avenue
WHO: More than 600 teams and hundreds of individual walkers from across the country.
Speakers and entertainment include:
- Rick Harrison, star of the top-rated TV series "Pawn Stars"
- Hailey Scheinman, founder of Lemonade for Livy
- Sleepy Man, roots music trio
- Phil Gattone, Epilepsy Foundation president and CEO
- Warren Lammert, Epilepsy Foundation chair
Interview and Photo Opportunities:
Rick Harrison, star of History's "Pawn Stars" and "Pawnography," and app creator of Rick Harrison's Trivia Challenge
- Rick lived with seizures until he was a teenager.
- He is a board member of and national spokesperson for the Epilepsy Foundation to help raise awareness and provide support for all people impacted by seizures.
Jon Scheinman, co-founder of Livy's Hope
- Jon's daughter Olivia (Livy), 10, has had severe epilepsy since birth.
- Jon's daughter Hailey, 10, started Lemonade for Livy to raise funding and awareness for epilepsy research.
Sleepy Man, roots music trio from New Jersey
- The teen trio wrote "Man in Your Corner" as a tribute to their younger brother Sam, who has epilepsy.
Phil Gattone, CEO and president, Epilepsy Foundation
- Phil's son, who is now 28, was diagnosed with epilepsy at age four.
Warren Lammert, Epilepsy Foundation chair
- Warren co-founded the Epilepsy Therapy Project and epilepsy.com.
- His daughter began having seizures as an infant.
REGISTRATION: To register for the walk, visit www.walkforepilepsy.org.
To learn more about the walk, visit the Epilepsy Foundation on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EpilepsyFoundationofAmerica and Twitter at https://twitter.com/epilepsyfdn. Follow the conversation using the Twitter hashtag EpilepsyWalk.
Click here for a list of frequently asked questions.
About Epilepsy
When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy. Epilepsy affects nearly 3 million people in the U.S. and 65 million worldwide. This year, another 150,000 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy.
About the Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with nearly 50 affiliated organizations throughout the United States, has led the fight against seizures since 1968. The Foundation is an unwavering ally for individuals and families impacted by epilepsy and seizures. The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is to stop seizures and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), find a cure and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy through efforts including education, advocacy, and research to accelerate ideas into therapies. The Foundation works to ensure that people with seizures have the opportunity to live their lives to their fullest potential. For additional information, please visit www.epilepsy.com.
The following files are available for download:
Media Contacts
Jonese Holloway
jholloway@efa.org
(301) 918-3772
Kirsten Withrow
kwithrow@efa.org
(301) 918-3743
