Media Advisory: Thousands Walk to Make a Difference for the Epilepsy Community

WHAT: The Epilepsy Foundation will hold its annual National Walk for Epilepsy to help support the Foundation’s mission to lead the fight to stop seizures, find a cure and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy.

Various activities for people with epilepsy and their families and friends will be taking place on the National Mall. Highlights include:

• Ask the Experts: a Q&A session with top neurologists fielding questions from Walk participants. The 2012 panel will feature Dr. Joseph Sirven, Dr. Brien Smith and Dr. Joan Austin, member of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) committee on Public Health Dimensions of the Epilepsies, who will present an overview of the IOM study results.
• Social Media Tent: an area where participants can get their picture taken in front of the Walk Mural, which will be shared on the Epilepsy Foundation’s Facebook page. Walkers can also show their hometown pride at the Hometown Heroes table, where they can place a pin on their city on a U.S. map to compete for the region with the largest number of Walk participants.
• Walkers Village: an area comprised of sponsor booths that encircle the main Epilepsy Foundation booth, where participants can gather information and giveaways from corporate supporters and partner organizations. The center tent will showcase the Epilepsy Foundation with educational information and the Ask the Experts session.
  

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 2012, at 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: The National Mall, Washington, D.C.
Start line: 14th Street between Madison and Jefferson Drives

WHO: Hundreds of teams and individual walkers from across the country.
Speakers include:

• Bob Madigan, “Man About Town,” WTOP-FM
• Tony Coelho, interim CEO, Epilepsy Foundation
• Brien Smith, M.D., Board chair, Epilepsy Foundation
  

WHY: Epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting nearly 3 million people in the U.S. One in every 10 people will have a seizure in their lifetime. Over the past five years, the National Walk for Epilepsy has engaged more than 30,000 people and raised more than $5 million.
While there is currently no cure for epilepsy, promising research toward new treatments and a cure is being conducted every day. Money raised for the National Walk for Epilepsy provides funding for this research, as well as support for programs and services for people with epilepsy and their families.

REGISTRATION: To register for the walk, visit www.walkforepilepsy.org. You may also register on-site between 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

To learn more about the walk, visit the Epilepsy Foundation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/epilepsyfoundationofamerica and Twitter at www.twitter.com/epilepsyfdn. Follow the conversation using the Twitter hashtag #WalkforEpilepsy.

Click here for a list of frequently asked questions.

Media Contacts:
Erica Hiar
ejh@ecius.net
(202) 296-2002

About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It is also called a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy. Epilepsy affects nearly 3 million people in the U.S. and 50 million worldwide. This year, another 200,000 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy. There is no known cure for the disorder.

About the Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation, a national nonprofit with affiliated organizations throughout the United States, has lead the fight since 1968 to stop seizures, find a cure and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy. For additional information, please visit www.epilepsyfoundation.org.

###