Betsy Crumb

Betsy Crumb's Fundraiser

I am running in honor of Megan Dickie and to protect all with epilepsy image

I am running in honor of Megan Dickie and to protect all with epilepsy

Please support my Marathon for Danny Did Foundation

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$10,050 towards $10,000

** Follow along with my journey in training by reading/subscribing to my blog: www.betsyrunschicagoagain.com

Dear friends, family, and philanthropic strangers,

Six years ago my world was turned upside down when Megan, my best friend - kindred spirit might be more appropriate - died suddenly from SUDEP. At the time, life felt insurmountable; my heart was shattered, my spirit was broken. It has been a long haul of resilience and growth, learning to live without my trusted confidante by my side. My world view changed and I have become a different - almost certainly better - person in this now post-Megan world I am forced to live in.

Megan's death is the way I mark time now - before her death, and after her death. Unfortunately, in both of those epochs the same remains alarmingly true: we know shockingly little about SUDEP, epilepsy, and the deaths that result from both every year. That's why, for the second time now, I am raising money for Danny Did, whose mission is to advance public awareness of epilepsy and the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), to protect people with epilepsy, and to prevent deaths caused by seizures.

This will be my sixth marathon and my second time running Chicago. I can think of no better way to honor the best woman I've ever known than by raising money in her honor. Megan was larger than life; an unwavering advocate for the environment; she worked a second job teaching children with disabilities and special needs how to ski; and she was the best friend anyone could ask for. She loved to run and taught me to love running as well, so running in her honor for an organization that works to prevent the very thing that caused her death is deeply significant to me.

Thank you for considering a donation to support every step of my 26.2 miles dedicated to Megan, Danny, and all those facing the challenges of epilepsy.

With a wide-open heart,

Betsy

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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.