Occasionally things happen in your life or in this case a friend's life and you ask "Why?"...the moment might last a while or it may be fleeting. In my case it made me ask "What can I do to help?" and this is why you are receiving this email so please take a moment to read.
I've been a long-standing supporter and fundraiser for Team in Training (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) and that will not change as it is the heart and soul of why and how I've become a runner. But for the time being...my mission is new and it is to help a friend and show my support.
My friend is Jessica (some of you know her) and her 9 year old son, Grant, was recently diagnosed with Epilepsy. Almost every day since the 2nd day of school Grant experiences what they call Complex Partial seizures. They last less than 2 minutes each but that is 2 minutes with each seizure that is taken away from him. And he can have multiple ones in the same day. My heart hurts for Jessica as she is adjusting...and how this affects not only Grant but their family. Her constant worry when she isn't with him made me want to do something...to tell her she isn't alone. She has said in several different ways..."I know there are worse things happening to kids (like cancer) so I shouldn't feel so bad but it isn't fair and we don't know what causes the seizures." I couldn't agree more with her and I'd feel the same if it was my child. It isn't fair...because the thing Grant loves most is swimming. And he is an awesome swimmer and on swim team!
Grant seems to be taking most of this in stride. Except that he can't play sports, or swim, or even go to recess until his seizures are under control. He's not allowed to ever be alone at school. Or anywhere really. None of that is ok for a 9 year old boy.
Grant seems to be taking most of this in stride. Except that he can't play sports, or swim, or even go to recess until his seizures are under control. He's not allowed to ever be alone at school. Or anywhere really. None of that is ok for a 9 year old boy.
So...what are we doing? You guessed it...we are running! We've signed up to run the Houston Marathon (Jan 13) in honor of Grant and his recent diagnosis of Epilepsy - we are calling ourselves Grant's Gang. We will be fundraising for the Epilepsy Foundation. And here's the kicker...it is 34 days after we run the Dallas Marathon (Dec 9).
Most people don't know a lot about Epilepsy...here is a eye-opening fact: "While medications and other treatments help many people of all ages who live with epilepsy, more than a million people continue to have seizures that can severely limit their school achievements, employment prospects and participation in all of life's experiences. It strikes most often among the very young and the very old, although anyone can develop epilepsy at any age. In the U.S., it affects more than 300,000 children under the age of 15--more than 90,000 of whom have seizures that cannot be adequately treated."
Please help Grant's Gang reach our goal of $2000 by making a tax-deductible donation on our website. If you are a mutual friend...no worries...we are fundraising on one website so your donation is helping both of us! Any amount will help and is greatly appreciated and if your company matches please take the steps to get your donation matched.
‘A mile for a moment. Not another moment lost to seizures.’
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