Rachel Margaret Howard

Age: 11
Grade: 6
Market: West Haven, Connecticut

Rachel Howard isn’t afraid to speak up and out to others about her epilepsy. In fact, even at her young age, she’s already started organizing fundraisers for epilepsy, and ensuring that everyone she knows wears Epilepsy Awareness bracelets so they can all help spread the word.

This voracious activism runs through the entire Howard family—Rachel’s sister has helped her with her awareness and fundraising activities, while her mother is a vocal spokesperson for the needs of people who have epilepsy. None of them find Rachel’s epilepsy an easy thing to deal with, but they have all, including Rachel, adopted the “No Big Deal,” slogan, so they always remember, after she falls off her bike or out of bed, that it could be worse.

“Please treat us kids with epilepsy the same as other kids,” Rachel said. “We’re just like them. Don’t make fun of us, we just have seizures. Help us when we have seizures, if we need it. Just remember, we’ll be okay after it’s all over.”