Run Out Epilepsy

Miles for cures

2007-08-28T21:37:00.001-05:00

The whole purpose of the ROE project is to advocate for the rights of epileptic patients, and the treatment of epilepsy.

I am a runner as well as a triathlete in training.

I am also in my 2nd year of being sseizure free.

In 2005 if you were to ask me if this is where I saw myself in 2 years... the answer would have been a stern no. I was on the med-a-go-round with my AED's - Anti-Epileptic Drugs. The side effects were worse than the seizures. I lost hair as well as my ability to sweat, so running became a major issue. I could not eat, lost on average one pound a day, aand had so little energy that I had to take a nap in the middle of my shower. That was no joke.

Two years ago I wondered how I was even going to make it to the next day, let alone to the finish line of a race.

Since the darker day of 2005, I realied that I am one of the lucky ones who found the right medicine combination that has kept both my seizures and side-effects at bay. But for every one of those types out there, there are hundreds if not thousands who cannot live a normal life no matter the drug cocktail or countless surgeries they have to undergo.

Epileptics face a cruel stigma in today's society... still. And I want to help stop that.

Like I said I am one of the lucky ones. But so many people who have touched my life and my heart are not as lucky as I.

So my mission - the Run Out Epilepsy project - is to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation of America to get the word out there, to fund research and development of new medications and procedures to finally rid people of this condition.

I want to raise $25,000 for the EFA through my running, triathlons, etc. I am able to be active again, so I am dedicating every mile I swim, bike, or run to all of the people who do not have the option to participate. To train. To even be left alone.

If you would like to donate money to this cause, pleasae do so via the firstgiving.com link on the right-hand side of this blog. All donation monies go directly to the EFA. I never see a cent of it, and I would not have it any other way.

Thank you for your time!

})i({ Jennifer, the ROE Project

ROE went MIA

2007-08-28T21:14:00.001-05:00

Things have been busy in the ROE camp as of late. Getting the word out and support for the cause has been quite difficult, even with the publicity on Squidoo and on Myspace.

I think that we are going to have to take a real grass-roots approach to the spreading of this cause and get the word out there from now on.

We are not asking for much here at ROE, only that people wlk away with a better understanding of what life with Epilepsy is like, and how we can work towards securing a safer, more tolerant, and better world for those with it.

We will be posting more often here. Look for a new Myspace page for the ROE coming soon.

If you stopped by here becausse you saw the link over on the Journey' page, thank you for taking a look. You will find a lot of information in the posts here asa well as on the EFA website.

And as always, a donation is welcome, but never required.

Have a great day!
ROE Project

Want a great half marathon to run? Why not try the Worldwide Half?

2007-05-16T21:41:00.000-05:00

A good running "pal" of ours over here at the ROE project - and my virtual running partner so-to-say - has been working on something amazing... for the 2nd year in a row!

It is called the Phedippidations Worldwide Half Marathon. It is ran locally - in fact the motto is "Think global, run local". It is a great chance to run "with" people all over the world!

This race is the perfect addition to the ROE running calendar of events. We are working on getting in some t-shirts to help spread the word of the project. Every member of the project, running partner or purely a donator, will be receiving the t-shirts to help get the word out about what we are trying to accomplish.

If you would like to - please check out the websites for both the Worldwide Half run as well as Phedippidations. This is a wonderfully educational, funny, intereting, smart, and amusing podcast. Steve has put a lot of time into the production of the podcast, and you always run away with some intersting knowledge. I like to think of Phedippidations as the "Good Eats" of the running podcast world, and Steve as the Alton Brown.

We run for those who cannot... we run for a reason. We run to run out Epilepsy.

In the next posts or so we will have a story of someone with epilepsy who has done amazing things to take control of their life. We will be highlighting a different individual frequently so you can see who your donations are helping.

Have a great evening!
~The Run Out Epilepy Team

ROE Lens picked as Lens of the Day on Squidoo!

2007-02-05T07:08:00.000-05:00

I found out today that my Run out Epilepsy lens on Squidoo was picked as lens of the day. It is actually a competition, and not a given that you will be picked. You have to submit your lens and compete against all other lenses that submitted (there are 75,000 lense total on Squidoo currently). Also, my lens is now ranked #309 - which out of 75,000 is pretty good!

I am pretty happy about this! Thank you to everyone who has helped me spread the word. Together we can make a difference!

Welcome to the Run Out Epilepsy Blog!

2007-01-24T23:17:00.001-05:00

Together we can help raise funds for the Epilepsy Foundation of America. Together we CAN make a difference.

Every movement has to start somewhere, and I feel that here is the place!

I have a running blog - the 13.1 mile journey, this I update with my running stories, goals, aspirations, etc. But one thing I do not talk abou topenly or often is my epilepsy. I want people to see me, not the epilepsy.

That is the issue - aside from obvious life quality concerns, there is a strong stigma associated with epilepsy.

Through advocation and awareness, we can change that. Even if 1 person has a better understanding through this project, than I consider it a success.

So welcome to the "Run Out Epilepsy" Project. Together we can run for a reason... together we can Run Out Epilepsy!