I am running to Protect Kids with Epilepsy

Thank you for considering a donation to support my 26.2 mile Chicago Marathon run dedicated to those facing epilepsy.

As some of you may know, epilepsy has affected my family greatly.

My father suffered routine Petit Mal seizure episodes starting at the age of 12 that were finally diagnosed correctly as a direct result of sleep deprivation. At one point, my father was rushed to the hospital with uncontrollable Petit Mal seizures that almost resulted in a full-blown Grand Mal seizure. This was due to several nights of sleep deprivation. He now closely monitors his sleep habits to ensure the correct amount of sleep to avoid these issues.

Personally, I have experienced signs of seizures and have been closely monitoring my sleep to avoid issues.

Another family member of mine was diagnosed later in his adult life and suffers from Grand Mal seizures. With these intense seizures, he has fallen and hit his head many times which is now causing memory issues for him. In more severe episodes, he has almost died from his seizures.

I appreciate any and all support for this fundraiser to help increase awareness of this often deadly disease.

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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 Foundations 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. Danny Did Foundation takes its 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.