Walk to End Epliepsy kicks of in Wilkes-Barre

(WBRE/WYOU) — Dozens of people are taking some important steps to raise awareness and funds in the battle against the most common serious brain disorder.

A crowd turned out Saturday at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre for the annual Walk to End Epilepsy.

It is sponsored by the Epilepsy Foundation in eastern Pennsylvania which serves 18 counties.

Roughly 110,000 people in eastern Pennsylvania live with epilepsy.

One of those people is 20-year-old Jalyn Fields who walked today with her mother.

Collecting supplies for those impacted by Hurricane Helene

"To me, it means a lot because it means that there are sick people who care out in the community about people like Jalyn that have epilepsy and that they want to help support the foundation to bring awareness and different things like that," said Monica Fields daughter lives with epilepsy.

"You want to support the people in your community. One in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime so it's not a visible, It's a hidden disability. You don't know it until you see somebody have a seizure," added Mary Loughlin the northeast region director, of Epilepsy Foundation Eastern PA.

Saturday's fundraising goal was at least $25,000.

The money will help support the Michael P. Loughlin Epilepsy Community & Resource Center in Kingston and epilepsy educational programs.