Local event raises funds for epilepsy research

AUSTINTOWN — Tom Pugh of Youngstown will never forget Christmas 1998, but not because of anything that came wrapped in bright paper and pretty ribbons under the tree.

It’s because that was when he was first struck with epilepsy, and his life hasn’t been the same since then.

“I had a grand mal [seizure] the day after Christmas,” the soft-spoken Pugh said. “I woke up in the ambulance. I didn’t know what was going on. That was the most frightening part of it. Waking up in an ambulance is not a good feeling at all.”

Pugh, 23, is one of thousands of epilepsy patients in the Mahoning Valley. He and many others were at the Cracker Barrel restaurant on state Route 46 today to help boost awareness about the disease and to raise money for research toward an eventual cure.

Volunteers spent one-hour shifts sitting in rocking chairs outside the restaurant, each representing a group, business or individual who had sponsored the effort through a financial donation.

Janet L. Mau, director of Mahoning Valley Epilepsy Fund Inc., said this was the fourth year for the fund-raising event. Last year, the group raised about $10,000, and about $10,500 had been pledged for this year’s event. “But donations are still coming in,” Mau said. “We won’t know for sure for another couple of weeks, but we should top last year’s total fairly easily when it’s all said and done.”

For the complete story, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.