Highlights from the 2023 National Walk to END EPILEPSY

What Is the Walk to END EPILEPSY^®?

The Walk to END EPILEPSY is an annual community event hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation. Our aim is to raise awareness about epilepsy and generate support for our programs and services. The Walk is a safe place for members of the epilepsy community to gather and gain strength from each other, share stories and feelings, and make lifelong connections.

2023 National Walk to END EPILEPSY

This year’s national Walk was held in Washington D.C. on May 6 at Nationals Park, bringing together close to 222 teams and 1,500 participants! More than 50 Walk events were also held in various cities across the United States throughout 2022 and the summer of 2023, bringing in nearly $1.5 million for the epilepsy community. Congratulations and thank you to all of our participants and volunteers! 

While at Nationals Park, participants walked the 1-mile route around the stadium to raise awareness in their purple gear. Also available to participants was a “Walker’s Village” filled with tents from sponsors and included fun items such as a photo booth courtesy of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Other tents also included a video booth, a home run fundraisers tent, and a purple tent. The Epilepsy Foundation also had several tents, including Seizure Safe Nation, information on how to become an epilepsy advocate, as well as tools for your care while living with epilepsy.

While many of the participants enjoyed the walk around the marked path, there was even more fun to be had around the stadium. Guests could take a photo shoot by home plate or try out the 360-video booth. The Nationals’ Racing Presidents mascots joined the event and our top fundraiser, Sam Stevenson, cut the ribbon to begin the Walk! Fun giveaways at the end of the day included clear drawstring bags, water bottles, and stickers to commemorate the day in D.C.

Poet served as the event emcee. Other attendees included Jessica Chappell, a Business Analyst for Walgreens, and a virtual address from Greg Grunberg, advocate, actor, host, and comic book author. Mission moments at the event included calls to action after the walk by Jessica Chappell, Matthew Steele, and Natalie Y. Beavers to get more involved with the community. They also encouraged everyone to share their personal stories and experiences with seizures and to spread education and awareness about epilepsy. The National Anthem was beautifully sung by Dana Nearing prior to the 1-mile walk.

Before to the event, a moment of silence was observed and led by Mary Duffy for those we have lost to epilepsy. A Remembrance Wall, provided by the Danny Did Foundation commemorated loved ones. This Wall allowed participants to reflect and honor their memory during the event.

The night before the event, a VIP reception was hosted at National Park courtesy of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. This reception offered attendees the chance to connect, share their stories with one another, and most importantly, provided an atmosphere of togetherness for people affected by epilepsy. 

For all those who attended the Walk this year, we appreciate your support of the epilepsy community! Find photos from the event below. Use #WalktoENDEPILEPSY to tag us when sharing your photos on social media!

If you missed the walk this year, there are many opportunities to join in, from local events to raising funds with your own walk.