Baltimore Ravens Star to Attend National Walk for Epilepsy
For Immediate Release
Baltimore Ravens Star to Attend National Walk for Epilepsy
Landover, MD (March 7, 2008) — The Epilepsy Foundation announced today that Baltimore Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle will participate in the 2nd annual Walk for Epilepsy on Saturday, March 29, 2008, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The National Walk for Epilepsy (www.WalkforEpilepsy.org) is a family-oriented, noncompetitive, two-mile walk in our nation’s capital to raise funds for treatment and education programs for people with epilepsy and their caregivers.
“It’s important to me to come out and help other people with epilepsy,” said Rolle. “And there are a lot of people out there that I plan on helping. I’m happy I can keep on playing football and I want people to know that anything is possible, even when you’ve got something like epilepsy. You have to find the best treatment you can and go out and do all that you can do.”
Other celebrities taking part in the National Walk for Epilepsy include Alan Faneca, who recently signed with the NY Jets, and helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win SuperBowl XL; Faneca has had epilepsy since the age of 15. Actor Greg Grunberg, a member of NBC’s Emmy-nominated ensemble drama series, Heroes, is the Walk’s spokesperson—as well as a team leader. He’ll be walking with his family, which includes his son Jake, who has epilepsy.
The goal of the Walk is to raise $1.5 million for epilepsy services, education, and advocacy. The event, made possible with support from Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc., is designed to bring the epilepsy community together to demonstrate camaraderie, strength and success.
“It is wonderful to have professional football players, such at Samari Rolle and Alan Faneca, publicly share their stories of living with epilepsy,” said Eric R. Hargis, president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. “Having Samari and Alan achieving at the highest level of professional sports shows that epilepsy should not stop anyone from pursuing their dreams."
For the courageous manner in which Rolle dealt with his sudden diagnosis of epilepsy, he will be honored with the 2007 Ed Block Courage Award during a ceremony on Tuesday, March 11, 2008. One player from every team in the NFL is selected to win a Courage Award, which is presented by the Ed Block Foundation. This award is an especially meaningful honor because the players themselves elect the winners, who are seen as having tremendous courage. These players are considered inspirations to others.
About Epilepsy
When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they have epilepsy, which affects more than 3 million people in the United States and 40 to 50 million people worldwide. This year, another 200,000 people in our country will be diagnosed with epilepsy. To date, there is no known cure.
About the Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with affiliated organizations throughout the United States, has led the fight against epilepsy since 1968. The Foundation’s goals are to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and prevent, control and cure epilepsy through services, education, advocacy and research, so not another moment is lost to seizures.
