Pictured: Paige and Heather-Purple Warriors. Photo by Cynthia Fabian.

The 5th Annual Chase Away Epilepsy Walk was started by the Signor family in 2019. The annual walk, named for their son Chase, now 15, helps to pull back the curtain on epilepsy. It was a quiet autumn day, just right to show support and strength and 140 supporters walked. People of all ages, their children and even their dogs were Purple Warriors. They were donning purple shirts and bags, the color of epilepsy awareness. The walk benefits JoshProvides, an epilepsy assistance organization. "JoshProvides shines a light on epilepsy during National Epilepsy Awareness Month, or NEAM, to educate the public and diminish the myths and misconceptions of this neurological disorder that will impact 1 in 26 people," said A.K. Bilan, CEO. Epilepsy is an invisible disability, which disrupts brain cells, causing seizures. It is considered invisible because people may not be able to tell you are having a seizure, not all persons have convulsions. Some might look as if someone is staring into space, and the next second have no memory of the loss of consciousness they had. Epilepsy still carries a stigma, as the definition means the falling sickness in Latin. And because of the media. and the entertainment industry dramatizes seizures, epilepsy awareness is a necessity. The organization helps to eradicate the negative connotation associated with epilepsy. The walk raised $20,000 in donations, through attendees and sponsors. This will provide a better quality of life for all who come to them for help and hope for those who never let epilepsy define them. For more information contact: JoshProvides.org

Pictured: Paige and Heather-Purple Warriors. Photo by Cynthia Fabian.