Over 2,400 adults and children strolled through the Forest Park and Fort Worth Zoo on April 5, while raising over $240,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation Texas–Dallas/Fort Worth’s programs and services. The Dallas/Fort Worth Stroll for Epilepsy included 171 business and family teams participating in this fun, family-friendly event.
“The Stroll for Epilepsy at the Fort Worth Zoo on Saturday was a massive success! We had an overwhelming number of people in attendance and were fortunate enough to avoid all of the weekend rain. The foundation staff and the countless volunteers did an amazing job organizing all of the family-fun activities at Forest Park as well as managing the hundreds of people making day-of donations and registering. We had so many people show up we even had to go purchase an additional 500 hundred tickets for people to get into the zoo because we were completely sold out! As always the Fort Worth Zoo was top notch and it was truly amazing to see all of the smiling faces of the people positively affected by the tireless efforts of the Epilepsy Foundation of Texas and the people like you who continue to show your support. To that end I would like to express a special thank you to all of you for supporting the Stoll for Epilepsy this year – it truly changes lives. See you next year!” – Jonathan Hawkins, Epilepsy Foundation Texas Board Member and Dallas/ Fort Worth Stroll For Epilepsy Chair
Epilepsy Foundation Texas Board Member and also the Dallas/Fort Worth Stroll For Epilepsy Event Co-Chair, Renee Wendland, has been to the Stroll for 8 years and expresses why she comes back every year, “My experience with the Epilepsy Foundation Texas Stroll began when I first worked for a company that sold medications for seizures. I was moved by the stories of families that I met at the Dallas Zoo and tried to connect them with the resources that could best help their loved one that experienced seizures. A few short years later I was attending the stroll as the parent of a child with epilepsy, as my daughter was diagnosed at
the age of 5. My mission has not really changed from my first walk 8 years ago to now. My goal and passion is to educate as many people about epilepsy as I can and dispel the misconceptions that are far too prevalent. My take away message would be, ‘Never give up hope.”’
Many thanks to the sponsors such as,(Platinum Level, $25,000) Cyberonics Inc., Sam’s Club, ( Gold Level- $10,000) Bank of Texas, Korman Marketing Group, Lundbeck Inc., UCB Pharmaceuticals, The Blakewell Family, (Silver Level- $5,000) Aaron’s, Cook Children’s, Texas Epilepsy Group, Sunovion, and ASI Gymnastics for supporting the 2014 Dallas/ Fort Worth Stroll For Epilepsy. Also, huge thanks to CBS 11 News Meteorologist Jeff Jamison who was our Master of Ceremonies & Guest Speaker!
The Epilepsy Foundation Texas relies on the support of the community to provide services to Texans struggling with the heartbreak of seizures. The Foundation provides medical care and prescription assistance to uninsured adults, pro bono legal services, and a variety of support groups. Furthermore, seizure recognition and first aid education and training are made available in area schools and community organizations. In addition, more than 300 children and teens diagnosed with epilepsy are able to attend one of the Foundation’s three week- long residential summer camps provided to families coping with this expensive medical condition. All programs and services are offered at no cost to families. 1 in 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy in the United States, making it more common than cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease combined. It’s very likely that you know someone that has had a seizure at some point in their life. Please join us today and help us lead the fight to stop seizures, find a cure and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy.
Information provided by Epilepsy Foundation Texas.