VERO BEACH — Vero Beach teen Christopher Flaig, with support from the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (EFOF), will present the first “Walk the Talk for Epilepsy Awareness” walk-a-thon in Vero Beach on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Riverside Park. The walk-a-thon will begin with registration at 8 a.m.
All proceeds will support EFOF services such as direct medical and neuropsychological services, advocacy and counseling, education, prevention and more for people diagnosed with epilepsy and seizure disorders.
Flaig is one of the more than 375,000 Floridians who are stricken with the disorder. A student at St. Edwards School high school in Vero Beach, he is an D-1 college prospect football player, basketball player, academic achiever and he had major brain surgery just four years ago. The procedure involved removing a major section of his right temporal lobe that was the source of recurrent seizures.
Today, Flaig is seizure fee and looking ahead to a bright future. Flaig began organizing the event because epilepsy, despite its prevalence, does not attract the widespread attention, research and funding as other major neurological conditions.
“We’re very proud and appreciative of an individual like Christopher to take such strong initiative in advocating our cause,” said Karen Basha Egozi, EFOF chief executive officer. “The more attention and support we raise, the more we can serve the community and come closer to preventing epilepsy for thousands of other Floridians.”
Registration is free, but walkers are requested to raise at least $50 in pledges. T-shirts and other gifts will be distributed, and prizes will be awarded for the largest fundraiser.
For more details on the Vero event, call Cynthia on 772-776-6258. Registration forms and additional information can be found at www.EpilepsyFLA.org.
The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (EFOF) was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) and serves as the national affiliate for Florida advocating for rights and needs of people with epilepsy and other seizure disorders. The family of epilepsy disorders is the third-most prevalent neurological condition in the United States, striking approximately 3 million people nationally and 360,000 people in Florida. About 42,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to seizures from epilepsy and related causes. The EFOF — with offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Pensacola and Gainesville — provides numerous services to individuals and families, such as advocacy and counseling, education and prevention, direct medical and neuropsychological services, as well as research and other programs regardless of financial situation or socioeconomic status.
For more information, visit www.EpilepsyFLA.org or call 1-877-55EPILEPSY.