Next year, I will be running the London Marathon! If you are wondering why I plan to subject my body to so much pain, I am running to raise vital funds and awareness for people living with epilepsy. When people hear the word “epilepsy,” they often think of seizures caused by flashing lights; however, this condition comes in all shapes and sizes. Growing up I would have seizures at least once a week. These events began at 18-month-olds and continued until I was about 14 years old. It had a significant impact on my learning development and my family. My parents did everything they could to support me, including getting help from Epilepsy Action, but no clear diagnosis was ever discovered. These seizures suddenly stopped when I was 14, and I was able to move on with my life. I thought that was the end of my epilepsy story – but in 2019 and 2020, I had my first two grand mal seizures as an adult. They were terrifying for my family, wife-to-be, and everyone involved. These events truly showed how little we know about epilepsy and the lack of guidance on how individuals should respond in these situations.

Epilepsy research is very “young” compared to other conditions. My own experiences with epilepsy proved to me that no one should ever go through this condition alone. Epilepsy Action is there to support individuals and families affected by epilepsy. I am running to support their mission and continue to help raise awareness. Please know that every donation directly supports their life-saving work. I’d be extremely grateful for your support.