Christine Lawless

Christine Lawless's Fundraiser

I am running for Brandon Bollin image

I am running for Brandon Bollin

Please support my Marathon for Danny Did Foundation

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$1,330 towards $1,250

Thank you for considering a donation to support my 26.2 miles dedicated to Brandon Bollin, and others facing epilepsy.

Brandon passed away last October, 2021, due to SUDEP (Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy). He was only 26 years old at the time.

Brandon was one of my best friends. I've know him since preschool. His sudden loss was a traumatic shock to his family and close friends. I had no idea what SUDEP was before his passing.

Since then, I've done research on what SUDEP is. Brandon was at the age when SUDEP occurs the most often, between 25-39. Other risk factors include seizures that occur at a young age, uncontrolled/frequent seizures, missed doses of medications, alcohol use, and many years living with epilepsy. SUDEP isn't caused by injury, drowning or other known causes. Most cases of SUDEP occur during or after a seizure. The exact cause is still not known, but these are possible factors: pauses in breathing, cardiac arrest, or a combination of the two.

Overall, I've felt helpless and lost since Brandon's passing. However, learning about SUDEP has given me some clarity and closure. I hope to educate, advocate and raise awareness of Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy by running the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

This ones for you Brandon xoxoxo


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About Danny Did Foundation

Founded by Chicago parents Mike and Mariann Stanton in 2010 after the sudden death of their four-year-old son Danny, the Danny Did Foundation’s primary mission is to prevent deaths caused by seizures. The Foundation advances public awareness of epilepsy and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), strives to improve communication about SUDEP between medical professionals and families affected by seizures, and advocates for the mainstream acceptance and use of seizure detection and prediction devices that may assist in preventing seizure-related deaths.

Epilepsy affects 3.4 million people in the United States and 65 million people worldwide. One in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy during their lifetime. But what few people understand, including many people with epilepsy, is that seizures can be fatal. More people die as a result of seizures than from fires and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) combined. In addition to deaths caused by drowning, other accidents, and status epilepticus (prolonged seizures),thousands of deaths occur annually from SUDEP, a fact that is little known and too rarely addressed by medical professionals and in public discussions of epilepsy.

The Danny Did Foundation takes it's name from the last line of Danny Stanton’s obituary, written by his dad: “Please go and enjoy your life. Danny did.” We celebrate Danny’s spirit in every child and family we reach.