November 6 - Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia (EFVA) Annual Awareness Walk

The Epilepsy Annual Awareness Walk, a noncompetitive event in support of EFVA and its programs, will take place at the Deep Run Park, 9900 Ridgefield Parkway in Henrico County, on Saturday, November 6 from 9:30 a. m. to 12 noon.

Fernando Cordero, director of the event, encourages the public to participate in the walk and learn more about epilepsy, a medical condition that affects 1 in 100 people nationwide.

The focus of this year’s event is twofold: to raise public awareness to the fact that people with epilepsy are excellent employees (they have fewer accidents and less absenteeism than the general population), and to raise funds for important EFVA programs and services.

During the event, there will be free snacks and refreshments as well as entertainment for kids.

FACTS ABOUT EPILEPSY

• Epilepsy affects more people than all those who suffer from Parkinson’s, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, and Cerebral Palsy combined, yet it receives far fewer federal research dollars than any of these diseases.

• Epilepsy affects 80,000 people (50,000 adults and 30,000 children) in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

• 181,000 people nationwide will be diagnosed with epilepsy each year.

• Fifty percent of students with epilepsy do not finish high school, as often they feel stigmatized and isolate themselves.

• Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of epilepsy.

• Each year, more than 500,000 children nationwide visit emergency rooms due to bicycle accidents.

• Only 15 to 30 percent of children wear protective helmets.

• Brain injury and epilepsy is significantly reduced for bicycle riders who wear protective helmets.

• Each year in Virginia, approximately 7,750 hospitalizations are due to epilepsy.

Ask friends and family to attend the event and for donations to EFVA Epilepsy Awareness Walk on your behalf. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

If you need further information, you can contact the director of the event: fernandocordero@verizon.net or call at (804) 549 9875.

In the event that you cannot attend, you can mail your donation to:

EFVA, P.O. Box 1533, Midlothian, VA 23113.

Make all checks payable to: Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia.

Come and join the EFVA Annual Awareness Walk, the 80,000 Virginians with epilepsy need your support. 

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