Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Edwards.
Grace, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After spending the day at a local theme park with my cousin Logan, who is a person with epilepsy, he had a seizure which caused the people around us to panic. As a child who had grown up learning proper seizure first aid, I knew exactly how to help Logan but was surprised to see many adults not know what to do. I vowed from that moment on to do my part.
With the support of my Mom and dance teacher, (Susan Janson), I developed Talent for Epilepsy, a 501c3 non-profit organization with the goal of educating the world about epilepsy, dispelling myths associated with it and supporting those affected. To date, we have raised over $10,000 and have educated and taught thousands of people worldwide.
Through hard work, and perseverance, we have had opportunities at hundreds of events to educate on proper seizure first aid. We have amazing supporters and performers who help us put on the best shows possible.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a non-profit at a young age has its ups and downs. I was able to communicate this important information at a young age, but at times, it would be difficult. I dealt with a lot of rejection, and I still do as I am a young founder. At times the people I would call for sponsorships or venues would think it was a prank call and hang up on me. As a young child, sometimes people wouldn’t take me seriously, and that was something I had to learn to power through to find the next best venue or sponsor. It helped me to learn perseverance and determination, and I am now a stronger person because of these experiences.
Talent for epilepsy – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are a non-profit which educates on proper seizure first aid in a fun and interactive way. We specialize in epilepsy education and family-friendly events. We are known for our talent and fashion shows, which include interactive epilepsy education aspects. We are most proud of our growing success and our recognition from the state for our work in the epilepsy awareness community. Our new-aged approach to the message of epilepsy awareness and seizure first aid, which is to make it easily explainable and fun is what sets us apart.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The most impactful and life-changing moment of my life was when I went to an amusement park with my cousin Logan, and he had a seizure. Everyone around us was panicking, asking if they should call 911. I then took that opportunity to educate the people around me about proper seizure first aid. At seven years old, I realized how bad the lack of seizure and epilepsy knowledge really is in our society. I learned that 1 in 26 people are affected by this disorder, and as I learned more and more about epilepsy, I knew that God planned for me to educate about what is important to many people.
Contact Info:
- Address: 8561 Whitaker St, Buena Park, CA 90621
- Website: talentforepilepsy.org
- Phone: 714-720-7127
- Email: grace@talentforepilepsy.org
- Instagram: talent4epilepsy
- Facebook: facebook.com/TalentForEpilepsy
- Twitter: talent4epilepsy
Image Credit:
You Blinked Photography
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