{"id":200583,"date":"2026-03-21T16:37:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T16:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/200583\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T16:37:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T16:37:07","slug":"epilepsy-alliance-florida-hosts-awareness-walk-at-jacksonville-zoo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/200583\/","title":{"rendered":"Epilepsy Alliance Florida Hosts Awareness Walk at Jacksonville Zoo"},"content":{"rendered":"

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 More than 150 people filled the Jacksonville Zoo<\/a> on Saturday morning, trading a typical weekend outing for a walk with a purpose: raising awareness for epilepsy.<\/p>\n

The annual \u201cWalk the Talk,\u201d hosted by Epilepsy Alliance Florida<\/a>, brought families, friends and supporters together \u2014 many wearing purple \u2014 to spotlight a condition organizers say affects more than 500,000 people in Florida, the highest prevalence in the country. <\/p>\n

The alliance also notes that 1 in 26 Americans will experience epilepsy at some point in their lives.<\/p>\n

For many participants, the cause is personal, saying they are supporting family members, to friends, to a science teacher.<\/p>\n

\u201cEpilepsy comes with a huge stigma,\u201d Egozi said. \u201cWe feel like if we talk about it and we put it out there in the community, people understand that it exists.\u201d Said Karen Egozi, president and CEO of Epilepsy Alliance Florida.<\/p>\n

Among the walkers was Regina Bradford, who said epilepsy changed nearly every part of her life after she began having seizures following a car accident years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy license was taken away,\u201d Bradford said. \u201cPeople had to take me back and forth to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bradford said successful brain surgery gave her a second chance \u2014 and a reason to keep showing up for others.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that time, I thought I had lost my whole life,\u201d she said. \u201cBut nope, everything was so successful. Now I turned around and help Epilepsy Florida out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The morning included a group dance before the walk, then a route through the zoo packed with conversation, laughter and encouragement.<\/p>\n

Heather Harris, a third-year participant, said her family keeps coming back because of the help they\u2019ve received.<\/p>\n

\u201cEpilepsy Alliance has been a great foundation. They\u2019ve helped out our family,\u201d Harris said. \u201cWe just want to pay it back to them and help them out any way we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Epilepsy Alliance Florida is a nonprofit that has several offices<\/a>, including Jacksonville on 5209 San Jose Blvd.<\/p>\n

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