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Maree Brand

My Activity Tracking

100
kms

My target 100 kms

I’m taking part in Walk for Epilepsy because...

For our brave little lion 🦁 

I want to raise money and make a difference for people living with epilepsy. Please help me by giving whatever you can using the 'Donate' button. The more people that know about the walk, the greater the impact, so please also spread the word by sharing our page with your friends and family. Thank you in advance for your generosity, it means a lot!

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$1,583

My Goal

$500

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My Achievements

Trailblazer!

You're on your way to becoming an Epilepsy Champ! Signup complete

Stepping Up

Self donate to show your friends and family how its done

Staying Connected

Let the world know that you're helping those living with epilepsy on your socials

Better Together

Get your friends together to a create a team!

Recruiting For The Cause

Invite others to join in on the fun!

Making Every Step Count!

You've hit the $200 mark for donations! You're in a draw to win a $300 Coles Myer voucher!

Consistent Mover

Thankyou, you've raised $500!!! A Walk for Epilepsy pack is coming your way!

Ultra Walker!

Thankyou, you've raised $1000! You'll be receiving a limited edition W4E hoodie and you're in the draw to WIN an Airbnb voucher ($200).

Step Master!

Thankyou, you've raised $2000! You're in the draw to win a $500 Airbnb Voucher

Halfway Hero

You've reached the halfway mark of your challenge, keep pushing forward!

Money Maker!

You've hit your fundraising goal! We couldn't be more proud of you

Walk for Epilepsy 2024 Champion!

You've smashed your target goal! We couldn't be more proud of you

1 in 25 Challenge Champion

You've completed your 100km in 25 days!

My Updates

Our why (Sorry it’s a long one)

Wednesday 2nd Oct
We have decided to take part in the Walk for Epilepsy 100km in 25 days challenge to help raise awareness and raise money for a cause very close to our hearts. Epilepsy affects 1 in 25 people at some point in their life and this year has significantly impacted our little family. 
At the end of June, the first weekend of the winter school holidays (Saturday), we found Bella unconscious and struggling to breathe. Other than hearing some strange noises beforehand we were terrified and had no idea what had happened. After a very scary wait for the ambulance we worked out she had had a convulsive seizure. A quick trip to Frankston hospital and a couple of tests and we were discharged under the presumption it was an afebrile convulsion (no fever), and hopefully a once off.
Unfortunately the following day (Sunday) at exactly the same time Bella had another big seizure. This time we saw the whole thing, including poor JJ, who was sitting with her and Bella ended up convulsing on top of her, very very scary for our little Jamie J (and Jake and I). Another scary wait for the ambulance, bleeding from Bella’s mouth and Jakes finger from trying to make sure Bella’s airways were clear, and another trip to the hospital resulted in an overnight stay for monitoring. The neurologist decided they weren’t confident to put it down to afebrile and would need to do further testing.
This is where the anxiety and frustration began! After being discharged we were told we would need to try and book an appointment for an MRI and EEG as an outpatient. We tried both privately and publically and the soonest we could get Bella in for an emergency EEG was in two months time. We were so stressed and upset as at this stage we had no idea what was happening to our poor little Belsy. 
Jake spent the next few days calling every hospital and neurology clinic in Melbourne to try and get an appointment sooner, while we were complete helicopter parents, watching Bella’s every move.
On Thursday, whilst sitting in bed watching TV, Bella had another awful seizure. Although this was her third seizure, it wasn’t any less terrifying! Jake was amazing and instructed me to film her seizure whilst he made sure Bella was safe. We didn’t call the ambulance this time and managed to support Bella  through the seizure and post seizure stage as hard as it was.
Filming Bella’s seizure was the best thing we could have done as after sending it to the neurology team at Frankston we were told to go straight to Emergency, which is when we requested to go to Monash Children’s and they agreed that that would be the best place for her.
Once we arrived at Monash Children’s Hospital emergency, we were seen straight away and Bella was started on anti seizure medication immediately. Once on the ward Bella was booked in for an EEG and MRI for the following morning. Thank goodness! We were sooooo grateful and relieved that things were happening and we would hopefully get some answers.
First thing in the morning Bella had her EEG, which was very uncomfortable and upsetting for her. By blowing on a pinwheel (hyperventilation) they brought on smaller, non convulsive seizures that we have now learnt are absent seizures, which we think she may have been having for at least the last 12 months. Although it was awful the information recorded during the EEG gave the doctors crucial evidence to diagnose Bella with Generalised Epilepsy. 
Although the diagnosis of Epilepsy was life altering news we were so thankful to have an answer and a plan of attack. The MRI that followed was to make sure there wasn’t anything else sinister going on, which it did thankfully.
We are so grateful for all the doctors, nurses and specialists both at Frankston Hospital and Monash Children’s, as well as our local GP who supported us a lot! We feel very lucky that we seem to have managed to get the meds right after only a couple of months of playing with dosages and addition medications.
We feel like there is so much more to be learnt about Epilepsy as it is so complex! Not only does Bella have epilepsy but my Aunty does too, as did my Grandma. I hope the continued research helps find ways to support our loved ones as well as everyone that is affected by Epilepsy. The Epilepsy Foundation has been amazing support and educated both us as parents as well as Bella’s school.
❤️❤️❤️


Thank you to my Sponsors

$263.75

Jb Paper Trading

Well done Maree 👍🙏🥳

$105.50

Adrian Brand

Love you guys

$105.50

Meg Tony

What a great idea! Go get em.

$52.75

June Breheny

Well done Maree.

$52.75

Jan And Milton Griffiths

So proud such an important cause. 💕

$52.75

Raechel Brisbane

Your amazing and love what your doing for your beautiful girl. She is just gorgeous xx

$52.75

Shelley Humphris

❤️❤️

$52.75

Matched Donation

Matched Donation

$52.75

Mel Wilson

Awesome effort Maree, such a wonderful role model to your girls and those around you xx

$52.75

Shae Henderson

💜💜

$50

Jen, Rick, Jordan & Misha

$50

Maureen And Stephen Leeming

Good on you. Love Maureen & Stephen.

$42.20

Emma Kelliher

9kms to go!!!!!! 💋🙌🏻🙌🏻

$31.65

Tarryn Purcell

Well done Maree!

$31.65

Gemma Klintworth

Amazing work Maree, sending love 💕

$30

Annieb

Good on you Maree - great cause for our little Brave lioness 🦁.

$27.83

Shan & Zac Slee

Keep up the great work!

$26.38

Ance, Dame, Jai, Kobi & Blake

Good on you Reeva! 👏 super mum! Thinking of you all and your brave little lion!

$26.38

Matt And Ebony Stonehouse

$26.38

Nat, Matt, Teddy And Lily Groat

Well done guys! Bella is so lucky to have you both advocating and caring for her. ❤️

$26.38

Fran

Keep walking!!

$26.38

Michelle Tolliday

Special cause for a special brave girl (and mum, dad & JJ). Sending love always to you guys. Love Michelle, Matt, Maya & Marli

$26.38

Jessica Mackie

🫶🏼

$26.38

Phoebe Brand

Go Reevey! We love you Belsy.

$26.38

Maree Brand

$26.38

The Tarjani’s

For a great cause xx

$26.38

The Ryan’s

❤️ 🦁

$26.38

Louise Thomas

🫶🏻🫶🏻

$26.38

Georgia Tomas

$26.38

Miles Family

Go Maree! Anything for little Belsy 🩷

$26.38

Anonymous

Good luck with everything Maree

$25

Sherry & Willow

$25

Michele Hedley

$25

Emma Rankmore

❤️❤️❤️

$21.10

Renee Dare

What an awesome effort!

$10.55

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