Finding your support!

June 9th is coming up, a date I am very, very excited about! June 9th marks Matty Fund's 10th annual 5k Walk/Run for epilepsy. My team is named "Shining a Light" & I am currently working on fundraising!

Ever since my diagnosis, I have found comfort in different organizations that have not only given me endless advice, but have introduced me to numerous fundraisers so I could have a direct impact on the money going into epilepsy research or help benefit the lives of children who have uncontrolled seizures. One of these foundations is The Matty Fund, based out of Rhode Island. This foundation takes pride in educating their community on epilepsy while giving those diagnosed guidance on which way to turn next. They are incredible people & I am so blessed to have created a friendship with the founders, Debbie & Richard Siravo.

One of the most important steps in the emotional process of a diagnosis is finding your support system. Whether we like to admit it or not, we are human and every obstacle life throws at us puts us through an emotional roller coaster. Luckily for me, I have an incredibly understanding group of friends that were by my side every step of the way along with a family that did everything in their power to make me feel at peace with my diagnosis. But most importantly, I just had to send 1 email to organizations and was overwhelmed with responses of the founders willing to help me cope & make me feel at home. I owe so many thanks to The American Epilepsy Outreach Foundation based out of Chicago, and Tracy Leydon, who was always quick to respond to every email & send me the necessary tools to hold my own fundraisers while educating me on theirs. The Matty Fund has been equally as amazing!

The bottom line is, a diagnosis of any kind can be scary and a future that once seemed so clear may now be foggy; but it doesn't have to be! With a support system, you can truly accomplish anything.

I owe so many thank you's to everyone who has been there for me along the way and have supported me through spreading a deeper awareness of epilepsy.

Help me raise even more funds & spread even more awareness by either donating to my team for the 5K run or sharing my blog!

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/tamarasacharczyk/10thannualmattysiravomemorial5kandmattysmightydash

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi