Cheryl Murphy, 40, is running Epilepsy Action’s Bradford 10k in memory of her daughter Edie, who passed away from a rare epilepsy syndrome in 2015.
Edie was just two-and-a-half-years-old.
Cheryl is running with friends, as part of ‘Edie’s flyers’, in the year that is the 10th anniversary of Edie’s death.
Cheryl has run Bradford 10K several times before and says running has helped her cope with the loss of Edie. “We have always loved running in Edie’s memory, completing 10Ks but also half marathons and marathons, too. I have done Epilepsy Action’s Bradford 10K a couple of times previously, and really enjoyed it. It’s local and very well supported.
Edie was everything a toddler should be – full of fun, cheekiness, happiness and love. She hadn’t been diagnosed with epilepsy when she died, but she had had a seizure that was thought to be a febrile convulsion. When she had her second seizure, we thought this was another febrile convulsion. Sadly, we now know this wasn’t the case.
Edie was admitted to hospital and spent six days on life support following this severe seizure, and sadly passed away on 16th October 2015. She was treated by the most amazing doctors and nurses during that time, and they found out that she had Hemiconvulsion Hemiplegia Epilepsy syndrome (HHE).”
HHE is an epilepsy syndrome that starts in children under four years of age, that can develop after seizures during a febrile illness.
“Until Edie’s passing, we didn’t know there was a possibility she had epilepsy. We had never heard of HHE before. It’s taken us nearly 10 years to be brave enough to learn more about it. We still want answers.
I’m taking part in this year’s Bradford 10K in Edie’s memory and to raise awareness of HHE. The race has such a friendly atmosphere and is really well-supported, with lots of people coming together for such an amazing cause. It’s one of the best in terms of organisation too!
I’m running with some of our amazing friends who, since Edie passed, have helped us to do lots of things in her memory and have always been there to support us. She may have been small, but she left a huge impact on us all and is loved and missed every day.”
Louise McCormick, Bradford 10K Race Director: “Stories like Edie’s are such a big part of what makes Epilepsy Action’s Bradford 10K so memorable. So many people are running for someone; friends, family members, someone they’ve lost or for themselves – it’s a reminder of how epilepsy really affects everyone involved.
Money raised by the event will go directly to Epilepsy Action, helping to support people with epilepsy across the UK. The funds ensure vital resources are available including our talk & support groups, award-winning helpline and one-to-one befriending service.
Whether running for a PB, or it’s your first 10K, everyone is welcome to run. Sign ups close really soon, so it’s the final chance to be part of this special event.”
Epilepsy affects around 51,000 people in Yorkshire and around 80 people are diagnosed in the UK every day. Epilepsy Action is committed to improving the lives of people with epilepsy, by campaigning for better services and raising awareness of the condition. They provide a national network of support groups, with expert advice available on its freephone helpline 0808 800 5050 or online via epilepsy.org.uk.
Epilepsy Action’s Bradford 10K, is the City’s most iconic road race and is back on June 1st. To sign up visit http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/bradford. Entries close Sunday 25th May, and runners can email [email protected] for any general queries or help.
