I am training and running the 2018 Chicago Marathon for the Danny Did Foundation and Epilepsy awareness. This will be the fifth year in a row I am running the Chicago Marathon for Team Danny Did.

I am participating in my 5th Chicago Marathon on behalf of the Danny Did Foundation. Each year I have ran I have gained some friendships with those affected by epilepsy and their supporters. Each year their smiling faces and overall spirit keep me coming back each year to this great organization. I hope you can help me in reaching and exceeding my fundraising goal for 2018 to help those with epilepsy.

I decided to take up running at the age of 40. As I started to train for my first race I found that I enjoyed running a lot. I found that it provided me some relaxation as I was running. As I was getting older by the year I started to enter longer races. I am a Battalion Chief for the Merrill Fire Department and I annually attend an EMS conference and was encouraged to join Team Danny Did by the organizers of the conference. In 2014 I joined Team Danny Did for the Chicago Marathon.

In running my first marathon I enjoyed running the Chicago Marathon course as it is 26.2 miles of spectators supporting you. The Team Danny Did cheer squad at mile 13.4 was and is a big inspiration. As the miles went on I started to think about Danny and the others affected with epilepsy and it provided me strength to finish the marathon.

During my training runs I drew inspiration from the bracelet on my right arm from the Danny Did Foundation to complete the training run even though I didn't feel like I could. I continue to run for Team Danny Did to help those to receive treatment or a cure to Epilepsy. It is always special to receive a letter from Danny's parents the night before the big race to encouraged every one of the runners. I live by the motto that is always in my mind which is "Live every day like Danny Did"

Whether your donation is big or small it all goes to a good cause. As a reminder your donation is tax deductible. Below is information about the Danny Did Foundation.

-Thank you, Phil

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 impacted 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 nearly 3 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 impacted by the disorder, is that seizures can be fatal. More people die as a result of seizures than from fires and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) combined. The causes of death can vary and include drowning, other accidents and status epilepticus (prolonged seizures). In addition, thousands of deaths occur annually from SUDEP, a fact that is little known and too rarely addressed in public and in medical circles. The name of the Danny Did Foundation originates from the last line of Danny Stanton's obituary, written by his dad: "Please go and enjoy your life. Danny did."