Fun Fundraising

An original idea for a fundraising event for epilepsy can not only bring together your community but also generate a lot of buzz and help promote awareness. International Epilepsy Day, on the second Monday in February, and the National Walk for Epilepsy in March are still months away, but it’s never too early to start brainstorming. Check out some of these recent events to get inspired.

Music Benefits All

In March, radio stars Roo Phelps and Casey Clarke held a country-music benefit concert at the OK Corral & Cabaret in Kelowna, B.C. The annual shows have raised $45,000 for the Center for Epilepsy and Seizure Education in British Columbia.

Maine Event

In March, Brian Kneeland organized a chili cook-off in Old Town, Maine, to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of New England. He challenged locals to bring in their best pots of chili. Volunteer judges awarded prizes.

Strong Support

From late May to mid-August, a Chicago couple, Joe Vlasek and Erin McShea, hiked 800 miles on the Appalachian Trail to raise epilepsy awareness in honor of Erin’s two siblings who have seizures. To date they have raised more than $5,700 for the Danny Did Foundation (dannydid.org) through their online campaign.

Sweet Success

The Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Tennessee holds a yearly springtime Chocolate Fling Benefit where sweets are donated by local chocolatiers and patrons bid on auction items such as rides in a vintage airplane or a hot-air balloon.

Join Us!

Epilepsy Advocate helps support communities by participating in epilepsy awareness and advocacy events. This year, we participated in the Epilepsy Pipeline Conference in San Francisco, the Epilepsy Foundation’s National Walk for Epilepsy in Washington, D.C., and a host of Sharon’s Rides in various cities. (A few more are upcoming: sharonforepilepsy.org.) To see more photos from some of the events, visit facebook.com/epilepsyadvocate. Can you join us for the next National Walk for Epilepsy in March?

Originally printed in EpilepsyAdvocate, Fall 2016.