Hundreds participate in Sioux Falls Walk to End Epilepsy

More than 250 people participated in the first-ever Sioux Falls Walk to End Epilepsy Saturday near the GreatLIFE Performance and Exercise Center in southeast Sioux Falls.

The event, spurred by families of people with epilepsy and volunteers, raised more than $40,000 to help establish a South Dakota chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation.

With the proceeds, Tom Cota, a lead volunteer for the event said they hope to start programs addressing epilepsy awareness in the state.

"South Dakota has been really underserved," Cota said. "So, this walk is really a springboard to get a chapter going."

The new chapter is expected to include community support, programming for children, epilepsy awareness in schools and the community and an advisory board.

The establishment of a chapter will bring much-needed attention, support and community for people with epilepsy, said Cota.

While Cova doesn't have epilepsy himself, he sees how stressful the condition is for his wife, Karen, and their son, Hayden, who both have the condition.

"When you look at how many people have it ... a lot more needs to be done," Cota said.

Lori Braegelman of the National Epilepsy Foundation said South Dakota is one of nine states without a local chapter, which needs to change soon since one in 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy in their lifetime and it's the fourth most common neurological disorder.

"We're tapping into the energy that's already here," Braegelman said.

Rose Opbroek, executive director of the Nebraska Epilepsy Foundation chapter, has been helping organize the event since the Nebraska chapter was established in 2018.

Once the South Dakota chapter is established, it'll be easier for the nearly 9,000 people in the state with epilepsy to connect with each other and find support together.

"It's needed," Opbroek said.