Thankful Thursday: From First Steps to the Cleveland Marathon with Empowering Epilepsy

In 2012, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I was 21, I didn’t know much about this health condition, nor anyone with it. Despite beginning my health care which included medications, I felt very alone and frustrated about my situation. But at the same time, I felt motivated to take things into my own hands and remind myself that epilepsy does not define me. Doing this, I began long distance running by signing up, training and completing the Cleveland Half Marathon in 2013 where I raised money for epilepsy but I didn’t know about Empowering Epilepsy until 2017. I have been on their Cleveland Marathon Team since then raising money for the non-profit every year, and it has been such an honor to do so. I have completed all individual distances and I am almost finished with the Cleveland  Marathon Challenge Series!

Over the last couple of years, my epilepsy has become more impactful and prevalent in life where I really leaned in to Leigh and Empowering Epilepsy. I visited her at the office in 2024 and we sat down together, filtered through educational articles specifically written for Empowering Epilepsy by specialists, doctors and researchers, and assembled a folder of information that we read and she helped me better understand my epilepsy. It made more sense to me and I felt more connected to my own self. It put fire in to my belly and eager to be more involved! That year, I volunteered and ran in the Gunselman’s Leprechaun Chase, which was a BLAST :). 

2025-2026 has been a significant life-changing time for me, and Empowering Epilepsy couldn’t be more there for me than ever. I am now in the middle of preparing for brain surgery; never in my mind (no pun intended) did I see myself going for this. But not only have I received guidance from the incredible team at the Cleveland Clinic, but Leigh and Empowering Epilepsy, with their wonderful comfort bags for me and my family, have made me feel loved. Through this process, I have been able to communicate directly with Leigh, ask her questions, and have so many laughs and mind blown (another pun!) epiphanies! I can’t wait to move forward with the support of the clinic, Empowering Epilepsy, and run in 2027 Cleveland Marathon after my brain surgery, as well as volunteer for this incredible non profit. I don’t feel alone in this world; meeting people in this community has not been easy but Empowering Epilepsy has been able to hold that space and make it educational, fun and touch so many lives. I feel seen, heard and understood.

Epilepsy has had a major influence on the trajectory of my life and especially my career over the years. I hope to grow with this non profit as well. Thank you Leigh and Empowering Epilepsy :).

Claire

Strongsville, Ohio