I am running to Protect Kids with Epilepsy

Since 2022, I have supported the good work of the Danny Did Foundation by running the Chicago Marathon. Now, it's personal. In May, my brother Patrick suffered a seizure at 2 am and collapsed. When I discovered he was in the hospital and had been diagnosed with epilepsy, fear and panic overcame me. I could only imagine what the outcome might have been if my mom and younger sister were not home. That fear is the same fear millions of American families live with every day. That is the mission of the Danny Did Foundation: stop that fear.

The Danny Did Foundation provides families with seizure detection devices, enabling them to live without fear. These detection devices are not attainable to families without high-quality, comprehensive healthcare. Seizure detection devices cost, on average $500-$3000. The foundation has been integral to my family's navigation of my brother's diagnosis. My brother did not have to face epilepsy alone; instead, he had a community and answers ready when he needed them. This year, my passion for running, combined with my love for my brother, has led me to run the Chicago Marathon with the Danny Did Foundation once again. Please consider donating, as each dollar helps alleviate fear for families across the nation.

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.