Jenny LaBaw: Athletes vs Epilepsy

Jenny LaBaw: Athletes vs Epilepsy
Written by Jenny LaBaw

My name is Jenny LaBaw. I am an elite CrossFit athlete. I am a professional strength and conditioning coach. I am an avid outdoors woman. I am a girlfriend, daughter, sister and mom to my two yellow Labradors.

I have epilepsy.

In May of 2012, I released a video, Jenny LaBaw: Living with Epilepsy, to the public briefly explaining my journey with epilepsy. The response I received was overwhelming. People reached out to me from all walks of life explaining how much my story meant to them. They had epilepsy or their son, mother, best friend, etc. did… and in some way I had inspired them or given them hope they had lost. That is when I realized the depth of the general public’s fear and misconception about epilepsy and learned that many people with seizures don’t disclose their condition. This reluctance inhibits their ability to seek the best treatment, understand the risk of their condition, take steps to mitigate those risks and gain control of their life.

As a result of the response from my video, I have wanted to somehow use the platform I have created through my career to promote awareness and raise funds to help the cause. I have decided that beginning September 19, 2015 (this weekend!),  I will begin a 500-mile run across the Colorado Rockies with the purpose of raising money and awareness for epilepsy.

Move Mountains is an event to not only bring awareness to epilepsy, but also to motivate individuals to take control of their life and live life to the fullest no matter what obstacles they are presented with.  Please take a moment to watch this video about my upcoming journey: Move Mountains: A Call to Action.

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases with nearly 3 million people in the United States and 65 million people worldwide diagnosed with the condition. One in 26 people will develop epilepsy at some point in their lifetime. Chances are, you know someone that has epilepsy.

I am not good at asking for help, but today I am asking that you please give what you can by donating here. All donations will go to the Epilepsy Foundation and be used to help fund research and education to find a cure. The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is to stop seizures and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), find a cure, and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy through efforts including education, advocacy, and research to accelerate ideas into therapies.  My mission is to give people a positive community to learn from, lean on and speak out to/with.  As an advocate for Athletes vs Epilepsy, I am excited to represent this organization in what I hope will be an unforgettable journey that impacts people from all over the globe.

I want to take a moment to thank the people/organizations that are making Move Mountains possible. Thank you for helping make my dreams come true and helping to inspire more people than you’ll ever know.

Diamond Sponsor: True Nature Kitchen
Platinum Sponsor: Reebok
Gold Sponsors: J.J. Lares
Silver Sponsors: PurePharma, UG Series, Unscared, The Resiliency Project

I ask that you please join me in my effort across Colorado to raise awareness. The experience of my run and its associated activities will be captured and communicated along the way via various means to include social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Blog), newsletters and television. My goal is to raise $50,000 by the end of the run (mid October). Every donation, however big or small, is greatly appreciated and know that you are helping make a difference in the lives of so many. Again, you can donate here.

Thanks to everyone for the support!