Category: Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego

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Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego

National Epilepsy Awareness Month

National Epilepsy Awareness Month

Living with epilepsy can have its challenges. Some people with epilepsy hide their disorder, which can lead to feelings of isolation, helplessness and even depression. Adults with epilepsy oftentimes experience changes in their quality of life, such as mobility, relationships, employment, and social interactions. Children and teens with epilepsy find themselves feeling isolated and misunderstood; they may lose friends, may not be invited to birthday parties, or may be ostracized or even teased or bullied at school.

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, and the Epilepsy Foundation is leveraging its community’s strength to reduce the fear surrounding epilepsy and bring hope to those facing challenges. Through a social media campaign called #RemoveTheFilter, the Foundation is asking everyone to “remove the filter” and make a difference for the more than 50,000 people living with epilepsy in San Diego.

Get involved and help spread awareness:

Share Your Epilepsy Journey to Inspire Action

Share your experience with your friends, family and followers to help them better understand epilepsy and inspire our community. Create a social media post describing a challenge or triumph you have experienced with epilepsy.

#RemoveTheFilter #NEAM2021

Fundraise Your Way to Help Fund Our Programs & Services

Start a Fundraiser on Facebook on behalf of the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego and help raise awareness and critical funds for the San Diego epilepsy community.

#RemoveTheFilter #NEAM2021

Get Seizure First-Aid Ready to Help Save a Life

Did you know that 1 in 10 people will have a seizure in their lifetime?

Make sure you are prepared to help a loved one, coworker, peer, or someone else in your life. Learn #SeizureFirstAid basics this November by taking our 30-minute, on-demand #SFAReady course HERE or contact us for personalized training at no cost. #RemoveTheFilter

Donate to the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego

Make a direct impact on the no-cost programs and services our foundation provides including training programs on seizure recognition and first aid, college scholarships, as well as access to specialty and suppotive care for the more than 50,000 people living with epilepsy here in San Diego.
Donate Now

In the News

Our President & CEO Wendy Urushima-Conn talks about National Epilepsy Awareness Month and our Gingerbread City fundraising gala on KUSI’s Good Morning San Diego.

Challenges of Epilepsy: Stats

  • 32% of adults with epilepsy can’t work, compared with 7% of adults without epilepsy who can’t work.

  • 29% of adults with epilepsy can’t use a car or public transit to get places, compared with 8% of adults without epilepsy.

  • 13% of adults with epilepsy felt nervous, sad, or hopeless in the past 30 days, compared to 3% of adults without epilepsy.

  • 336,000 kids have at least one seizure annually.

  • 4 in 10 kids who had at least one seizure in the past year live in homes at or close to the poverty level.

  • 3 in 10 kids who had at least one seizure in the past year live in homes without enough food.

Our Mission

With your help, The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County leads the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures and save lives.

Donate Now
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Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego Events

The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County hosts the Gingerbread City Gala

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – The annual 28th Gingerbread City Gala hosted by the The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County will take place at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in December.

CEO of the foundation Wendy Urushima-Conn goes on to tell us more about the event on December 9th.

The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County offers various services for those affected by the neurological disorder. They offer support groups, counseling, scholarship, first-aid, and more..

If you are interested in the event, you can buy tickets on their website: Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego.

This article was originally published by KUSI News.

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Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego Events

2021 Sharon’s Ride Run Walk to Benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Sharon’s ride. run. walk. will be held as an in-person on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at Ingram Plaza in Liberty Station.

All proceeds from the 15-mile bike ride and 5k run/walk directly support the Epilepsy Foundation’s free programs and services for the 50,000 people affected by epilepsy in San Diego.

The event will include an extended race day packet pick up where all participants will pick up their t-shirt and race packet, featuring a fun and festive photo stage, DJ, and other COVID safe entertainment throughout the day. Participants will have the option of selecting various routes around Liberty Station and the adjacent NTC park along the San Diego Waterfront.

The annual event is a tribute to Sharon Rosenfeld, a nurse and a teacher, who cared deeply about people with epilepsy and advocated helmet safety. She was killed on a cross country bicycle ride in 1993. Dr. William Rosenfeld and Dr. Susan Lipmann, neurologists who specialize in epilepsy, created the event to honor the memory of Sharon.

The foundation has served the San Diego community since 1954, offering advocacy and counseling for families, children and adults, seizure first aid training, Expressive Arts therapy, summer camp for kids and teens and a variety of supportive services. All these services are provided at no cost and are available to anyone whose life is touched by epilepsy.

President and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego, Wendy Urushima-Conn, joined Good Evening San Diego to discuss the event.

This article was originally published by KUSI News.

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Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego Events

Epilepsy Foundation to Host Gingerbread City Drive-Thru Event at Liberty Station

‘Tis the season for giving and helping others and the latter may be especially important this season due to the extra hardships brought upon countless communities by the coronavirus pandemic.

In typical years, year-end galas and holiday fundraisers would be held to help those in need. This year, however, has organizations shifting to virtual events or modifying their plans to keep attendants safe. The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County will be one of those organizations as they host their annual fundraising event but this time, with a twist.

The organization’s Gingerbread City will be a drive-thru affair at Liberty Station that will feature awe-inspiring (and delicious) gingerbread structures. The sweet aroma of the holiday classic cookie will be accompanied by festive music and decorations.

The event takes place this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

And the best part? You’ll safely be in your car the whole time there.

“We have 11 gingerbread artists joining us this year and when I say artists, it’s not like me building a little house from Michael’s,” said Wendy Urushima-Conn, President & CEO, of Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County. “They are these incredible pastry creations so we have a working mom who is an incredible artist on the side. We also have someone who has been on the Food Network and has won in their pastry challenge.”

The Epilepsy Foundation has been serving the San Diego community since 1954, offering personal advocacy and counseling, seizure first-aid training, and various services like expressive arts therapy and camp.

All of these services are free and available to anyone whose life is touched by epilepsy. That number may be more than you think; 50,000 San Diegans are impacted by the disorder.

Those who are interested in supporting The Epilepsy Foundation with this festive event can purchase tickets online.

Tickets start at $25 per car and the event is expected to sell out due to limited capacity. There are VIP upgrades available that include getting a family photo with Santa and a take-home wine and cheese package.

All of the money raised goes back into the foundation and the services it provides.

This article was originally written by NBC 7 San Diego.