Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend
Meet Your Team Leads
Meet Your Team Leads
Chris
5km Team Lead
I was diagnosed with nocturnal seizures in my mid-twenties, something that happens while I sleep and turned my world upside down. For a long time, my wife and I faced it quietly, trying to understand and manage something that felt isolating and overwhelming. Finding Epilepsy Ottawa changed everything. Through my first outing with the group, I met incredible people who live with the same condition, and what once felt like a curse became a source of connection, understanding, and strength.
I’m running with Epilepsy Ottawa to give back to the community that reminded me I’m not alone, to raise awareness about epilepsy, and to support children and families who face seizures far more severe than my own. Every step I take is for those who are still searching for answers, support, and hope.
Janet
10km Team Lead
I was drawn into the world of epilepsy by a tiny, precious four month old baby.
My granddaughter, Emily experienced her first seizure, in the middle of the night. Her terrified parents rushed her to the hospital where it took the medical team 70 minutes to get her seizure under control. It was such a frightening event. We hoped it would never happen again. However, this was not to be the case. Since that night, Emily has had 53 prolonged seizures and numerous others.
Emily has since been diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome; a rare and severe form of genetic epilepsy. It is characterized by frequent, prolonged, treatment resistant seizures and significant developmental delays. At the time of her diagnosis, Emily's family was living in the small, remote town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. Emily's medical needs were well beyond the scope of the local hospital. So, the decision was made to move to Ottawa, where Emily would have access to the emergency services and neurology team at CHEO. Emily is now 8 years old. She is currently taking 6 different anti - convulsant medications, twice daily, along with numerous supplements but still is not seizure free.
Epilepsy obviously has a ripple effect within families. When Emily and her parents moved to Ottawa, my husband and I soon followed suit. So, here I am...happy and excited to take on the role of Team Lead for the 10K Brainstorm Brigade at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. I have been a recreational runner for most of my life, so joining forces with Epilepsy Ottawa for this event seems to be a perfect fit for me.
I appreciate the opportunity to support the wonderful work of Epilepsy Ottawa. I applaud their mission to improve the lives of people affected by epilepsy and their efforts to enhance public awareness of this often misunderstood condition.
I am also so very grateful to Epilepsy Ottawa for providing us with the opportunity to gather as a community. Epilepsy can have such an isolating effect upon individuals and families. I have the utmost respect and admiration for my daughter Richelle and her husband Geoff, who while weathering the storm of epilepsy have remained focused on providing Emily and themselves with the best lives possible ...beyond that purple shadow. Gathering together for the race and meeting others who share the same journey is sure to be an empowering experience for us all!
Epilepsy Ottawa is proud to be an official charity in the 2026 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend Desjardins Charity Challenge.
The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend is home to Canada’s largest marathon and features 6 unique running events attracting over 43,000 participants, 2,500 volunteers, and tens of thousands of spectators resulting in an economic impact of over $27 million annually to the National Capital Region. Race Weekend also supports the efforts of runners and donors from over 60 local and national charities who raise over $800,000 annually through the Desjardins Charity Challenge.
Join Our Team: The Brainstorm Brigade
This year we will have designated Team Leads from the Epilepsy Community running/walking alongside you during the race!
Walk with Sandi for the family fun 2k
All participants are invited to connect with their team captain before and after the race which is an amazing opportunity to meet others in the epilepsy community and get everyone energized and ready to hit the pavement! Whether you choose to run or walk, we encourage you to mingle with your teammates and enjoy the race at your own pace.
How Can I Support Epilepsy Ottawa During Race Weekend?
Sign Up for the Green Bib option when selecting your race (every race has this option)! This means you won’t receive a metal at the end but the cost will be donated back to Epilepsy Ottawa! Be sure to select Epilepsy Ottawa as your charity of choice while registering!
Whether you are running, walking or cheering from a distance, you can create a fundraising page to directly support the work we’re doing at Epilepsy Ottawa. You can do that here.
If you’re not up for doing fundraising but would still like to contribute you can donate to our team “The Brainstorm Brigade” by clicking the link here.
