Epilepsy Ontario’s participation in the Oct. 20 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is more than a fundraiser; it’s also an opportunity for people to connect and enhance large-scale awareness of the neurological disorder, says Gino Piazza.
Piazza, Epilepsy Ontario’s president, characterizes the marathon as an opportunity for people living with epilepsy and their families to come together as a community and “raise the voice of epilepsy.”
He has also been successful at getting others involved in this year’s marathon, signing up four of his co-workers at KPMG.
Piazza says his passion for helping Epilepsy Ontario with its fundraising and awareness initiatives stems from positive first-hand experiences he and his family had with the organization after his youngest sister was diagnosed with epilepsy.
“The organization was amazing to us when she was first diagnosed,” he says. “They helped us navigate the very convoluted waters of epilepsy treatment and care, and they gave us the information that we needed.”
Epilepsy Ontario and Epilepsy York Region have teamed up for this year’s marathon, with 30 runners representing the agencies. Other epilepsy support agencies have also entered this year’s marathon, an annual event that sees thousands of people running through Toronto to raise money and awareness for a myriad of causes.
Following the event, Epilepsy Ontario, Epilepsy York Region and Epilepsy Halton Peel Hamilton will be hosting a thank-you party for participants.
Money raised from the marathon will be put towards services, education and support for people living with epilepsy and their families.
With approximately one in every 100 Canadians living with epilepsy, most people are connected to someone in some way who has a seizure disorder, says Epilepsy Ontario resource development co-ordinator Jeanette Schepp, adding this is evidenced by the significant number of people once again travelling from outside of the Greater Toronto Area to participate in this year’s marathon.
Schepp says participation in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is a vital tool for fostering epilepsy awareness and raising the profile of agencies providing supports to people affected by seizure disorders.
“It really allows us to . . . raise the voice of epilepsy, not only in Toronto, but almost on a worldwide basis because it does get significant media exposure,” she says.
To sponsor any of the participating epilepsy agency teams including Epilepsy Ontario, Epilepsy Halton Peel Hamilton, Epilepsy York, and Epilepsy Toronto, click here.
Click here for more information on the 2013 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
Writer: Deron Hamel
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