VERO BEACH — Despite overcast skies, a dramatic drop in temperature and a strong wind off the river, about 120 people gathered in Riverside Park on Saturday morning to walk three miles in support of epilepsy awareness. Among those gathered was lead-walker Chris Flaig, 17, his mother, Cindy, and younger brother, Andrew, and a dozen teenagers from the Brainie Bunch, a group from St. Edward’s School, which formed to educate people about epilepsy and to raise money for treatment.
Brainie Bunch member Cara Brueggeman, Chris’s classmate since kindergarten, recalled the first time she saw Chris have an epileptic seizure and how helpless and worried she felt.
At that point, she decided to learn what to do if it happened again. And, over the years, other kids joined her until they formed the Brainie Bunch.
“We want people to see the smarts and talent of Chris and others with epilepsy, instead of dwelling on an occasional incident that they don’t let get in their way,” she said.
Chris’s mother Cindy tries not to get emotional when she thinks about how far her son has come. She remembers those times in elementary school when kids and their parents steered clear of him. She remembers being gut-wrenched over what his future would be.
“But you see him now,” she says, her voice breaking, “And he’s practically a celebrity.”
At 6-foot-5-inches and 270 pounds, Chris, a junior, is looking at a likely scholarship to the University of Miami to play football, as an offensive lineman and the snapper to the punter. He plans to major in pre-med at UM and eventually become a neurologist.
It was in Miami in May 2007, when he was 12, that he had surgery that practically eradicated his seizures. He still takes medication, however, just in case.
But on this morning, with walkers lining up and merengue music playing in the background, nothing is farther from Chris’ mind than his own epilepsy. He stands at a balloon archway as the leader, surrounded by cheering family and friends. The line of walkers, four abreast, snakes behind him for about 150 feet.
Pledge donations for the walk have gone beyond $10,000, which will go to the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida and be used for diagnostic testing for those without insurance, said foundation development director Michael Barton.
According to the foundation, over 3 million Americans have epilepsy and over 50 million, globally. There are 50,000 deaths a year.
Until 1970, in the United States, it was legal to deny people with epilepsy access to restaurants, theaters, recreational centers and other public places, according to the World Health Organization.
But all of that has changed because of people like Chris, who not only set an example but who raise awareness about what those with epilepsy can accomplish.
“Sometimes you get tired from medication. Sometimes things don’t go the way you want. But you have to keep a big picture in mind and stick to your dreams,” said Chris.
Halfway through the walk, the clouds dispersed and a bright, warming sun beamed down on the walkers.
“The future looks bright, ” said Chris’s mom.