Team Danny Did in the 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

I have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know the Banks Family over the last 3 years. Their little girl Charlotte (Charbear) has stole my heart. Through her multiple medical needs she has continued to fight and is now one year seizure free. I am running 26.2 miles for her and her family. Charlotte is a warrior. Help me fight with her. I am so happy to be a part of the Danny Did Foundation.

From Heather, Charlotte's mother;

"I got a text earlier this week that brought me to tears. Eileen, was Charbear's first physical therapist. At the time we started treatment with her we had no idea the journey we would soon be on. We walked into her office thinking Charlotte just needed a little PT for torticollis. Eileen and Charbear instantly clicked. After months of head scratching and searching for answers as to why Charlotte wasn't developing or hitting milestones we had finally gotten our diagnosis of Infantile Spasms. Eileen has been part of our life since Charlotte was just a few weeks old. She is another therapist that turned into family. She is doing something completely out of her comfort zone and is running in Charlotte's name in the Chicago Marathon with the Danny Did Foundation's team. The Danny Did Foundation is an amazing organization fighting for research and a cure for epilepsy and supporting families. Many of you only know about Infantile Spasms because of our story, but it isn't 'just epilepsy'. It is the most devastating form of epilepsy a child can get. We are very fortunate to have gained control for now, but it isn't promised she won't relapse or ever develop another form of seizures. Take 10 minutes, read about this foundation, read about Infantile Spasms and truly educate yourself on what my baby deals with in a daily basis. She is one of the strongest kiddo's I know and that is because of the amazing team we have. So with that being said, please please donate to Eileen's run, for our butter baby, even $5 will be a huge donation to her cause."

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."