Thank you for your support and generosity!

The 16th Annual Walk for Epilepsy

and

2nd Annual Maine Walk for Epilepsy

were a huge success thanks to the support of our teams and individuals.

This year's fundraising has been amazing: as of June 2, 2009 both walks have raised a combined total of $171,000.00 and the donations and matching gifts are still coming in! Check back for an update after June 30th.

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It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of Dr. Edward Bromfield, who succumbed after a courageous battle with cancer Sunday, May 10, 2009. He is survived by his wife Terry, his sons Ben and Dan, his father Zangwill and sister Marcia.

Ed served our community over the past 15 years as a member and Chair of the Board of Directors and the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of MA & RI. (EFMRI) Among his many gifts to our Foundation and community, Ed was instrumental in creating Camp Wee-Kan-Tu, our camp for children with epilepsy, and served as camp medical director since its inception. Camp Wee-Kan-Tu was very dear to his heart. In addition to his roles at EFMRI, he was the Director of the Epilepsy Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston, where he taught the art and science of epilepsy care to medical students, residents, fellows and colleagues. At BWH, he took care of thousands of patients with seizures and epilepsy. He received numerous awards for his contributions to epilepsy care, including being honored by the Epilepsy Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island at the 20th Candlelight Dinner in November 2005. He also received the prestigious J. Kiffin Penry award in 2007 from the American Epilepsy Society and an Inspiration for a Cure from the Western Mass Epilepsy Awareness Committee. Nationally Ed served on the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of America.

Dr. Bromfield was a beloved member of our epilepsy community. He combined superb intellectual skills with humility and an endearing sense of humor. He led by example and inspired many of us to follow in his footsteps. We will deeply miss his presence, friendship and guidance.

Andrew S. Blum, MD, PhD                   Leslie G. Brody, PhD
Chair, Board of Directors, EFMRI          President, CEO, EFMRI

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16th Annual Walk for Epilepsy

Thank you for supporting our most successful walk to date! Almost 700 people were at the DCR's Artesani Park,
Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA and their combined efforts raised over $152,000!

*as of June 2, 2009 donations and matching gifts are still coming in

Saturday, May 16, 2009
Everyone enjoyed the walk, the food, the music and the beautiful weather. 

Thank you for your support! See you next year!

2nd Annual Maine Walk for Epilepsy

A Great Day for All!

Sunday, May 17, 2009 may have been wet and not very warm; however that did not stop the families and friends who showed up to walk for epilepsy awareness. Almost 300 attended the walk and stayed to enjoy a magician's show, great music and have lunch. 

The Maine Teams and Individuals raised more than $19,000!

Thank you for all your support .

*pictures to be posted soon.

Thank You - For 25 Years

Twenty-five years ago a small group of individuals with little more than an idea, , a desire and an overwhelming sense of community decided to form the Epilepsy Association of Greater Boston, Inc. to help families, friends and patients coping with epilepsy.  On Friday, November 14, 2008, we stood 25 years later, and honored those same individuals for their leadership, talent and commitment to the epilepsy community.
 
The tireless efforts of our founders and volunteers have enabled the Foundation to initiate and lead the way in developing needed services, educational programs, advocacy and research. The Foundation’s accomplishments are numerous. Highlights include expansion of services into Rhode Island in 1993, the development of effective information and referral services, cultivation of specialized support groups for individuals and family members.  Epilepsy awareness and education programs continue to be conducted in both states and brought into local schools and businesses, and recently extended toward psychologists, social workers, and counselors.  Our advocacy programs empower individuals and target legislation at all levels of government to ensure our constituents have a voice and are heard.  This year, Camp Wee-Kan-Tu celebrated its 10th Anniversary, having served over 500 children with epilepsy.  

Click here for the rest of the speech.

Pictures of the evening coming soon.

Lend a Hand Horse Farm

 

Lend a Hand Horse Farm is one of Rhode Island's leading therapeutic riding facilities.  The programs at Lend a Hand are designed to meet the needs of children and/or adults with physical, mental or social disabilities as well as those who are eager to learn about horse riding in a therapeutic environment.

They provide therapeutic riding in a safe, caring, natural farm environment, and treat all students with compassion and the necessary understanding to accomplish any given goal as a team. 

Scholarships:

Congratulations to all EFMRI Scholarship Winners and a special thanks to our donors who have made the Scholarship Program a success and helped ease the increasingly heavy burden on education finances.  

2007 Scholarship Winners

Nathanial Jannetti           $1,000    Shannon McDermott Scholarship
Jennifer Caggiano            $1,000    George Hauser Scholarship
Michelle Preston              $ 500      James Lyons Scholarship
Jonathan Ozoonian          $ 500      James Lyons Scholarship

Matthew Knox                 $1,000    Shannon McDermott Scholarship
Jonathan Yunes               $1,000    George Hauser Scholarship
Danielle Hettwer              $ 500     James Lyons Scholarship
Lauri Laurentano              $ 500     James Lyons Scholarship

Shannon McDermott Scholarship sponsored by Patrick & Janet McDermott
George Hauser Scholarship and James Lyons Scholarship are sponsored by the Western Massachusetts Epilepsy Awareness Committee.

Coming Up - 2009 Scholarships:

Richard Bonasera                 $1,000
Robert Hannigan                  $1,000

Any questions or comments - please e-mail us at info@efmri.org.

Sign up for our ECommunity and talk to others in the community living with Epilepsy.

This Interest Group of eCommunities provides a serious place where people facing issues and concerns about living and dealing with seizure disorders or epilepsy can meet and exchange ideas, support and experience.  Topics include "Parents Helping Parents," "Teen Group," "Help Forum," "The Lounge" and more.  Click here to enter.

Epilepsy Awareness Wristbands

 
"Not Another Moment Lost to Seizures"

Help us raise Epilepsy Awareness and bring the condition into the social dialogue.  The red wristband comes in one size and reads "Epilepsy Foundation MA & RI" and "not another moment lost to seizures" along with a light yellow flame on opposing sides. Bracelets are $1 each.

To donate to the Foundation and purchase a batch of 12, click here. 

All funds will go to back to the community through education, support and advocacy.

We Take Cars Too!