Running for a Reason: Epilepsy Awareness

First and foremost, thank you so much for being here and for supporting the Danny Did Foundation as I prepare to run the Chicago Marathon.

My name is Courtney, and I’m a 24-year-old living in Atlanta, GA. I recently fell in love with running and decided to take a big leap by signing up for my first marathon, the Chicago Marathon. I’m passionate about health, fitness, and social media, and I’ll be documenting my training and fundraising journey on my TikTok along the way.

Through sharing my experience as a first-time marathoner, I hope to raise awareness about the Danny Did Foundation and help educate others on the importance of epilepsy awareness and seizure safety.

I was shocked by how many people in my community have personal stories of loved ones affected by seizures. Their experiences inspire me and add more purpose to my training, fueling my commitment to raise awareness and funds.

Thank you for being part of this journey and for supporting a cause that truly saves lives.

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.