Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Several dozen walkers and runners converged on Saturday, June 3 to support the Akwesasne Epilepsy Support Group in their 5K. The event at Generations Park's Tewathahita Trail brought runners and walkers together in a non-competitive event to help boost the group's ongoing projects. They completed laps on the trail to earn tickets for a variety of prizes donated by local sponsors. The track was also dotted with signs that gave out epilepsy facts, which Jacob's said is in line with part of the group's mission – to educate and end stigma around the disorder.

Jacobs said this is their second year doing the event and they've upped attendance.

"We had a larger turnout this year," she said, crediting a force of about a dozen volunteers and "great sponsors" from the community.

"Our mission is to raise awareness and let people know we're out here to support them, and spread the word on seizure first aid," Support Group Coordinator Carrie Jacobs said. "A lot of people don't know what to do, or want to put something in someone's mouth during a grand mal seizure," which she said can cause the person to choke to death.

Jacobs said funds raised at the event will help their projects to aid local epileptic patients.

Kahwonwese and Dawn Loran get tickets ready for door prize drawings.

She said they have their eyes on buying a vehicle to help those with epilepsy get to and from doctors appointments. They are not able to predict when or where a seizure will strike, so they can't drive.

Jacobs said they also want to start a scholarship to help epilepsy patients with higher education expenses, and get seizure-detection watches to as many as they can.

She said the seizure watches do work, but they have to be linked to a smartphone and a caregiver's smartphone.

"A lot of people can't afford the minutes," Jacobs said.

The Akwesasne Epilepsy Support Group meets on the last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Brass Horse pizzeria dining room.

They have a page on Facebook.

Anyone with epilepsy or who has someone in their life who has the disorder can attend.