Man's team in Wheaton 5K walks to support brother with epilepsy

Every year, Kevin Muldoon is among the first people to sign up for the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago's 5K in Wheaton - and he doesn't come alone.

Muldoon, of River Forest, creates a team of friends and family - and friends of family and family of friends, and their friends and family because the team is ever-growing - all eager to hoof it 3.1 miles around Cantigny Park to support the foundation's efforts to support those with epilepsy through counseling, advocacy and educational services.

If you ask Muldoon, he'd tell you he wants to help send children with epilepsy to the foundation's Camp Blackhawk, where they can take part in summer camp adventures while their parents know a trained staff could handle a seizure. He'd say he supports the Studio E art therapy program that allows both children and adults with epilepsy to express themselves and their emotions creatively. He'd emphasize the importance of awareness in our communities, of lobbying for government support, of funding for research for treatment.

And, he'd urge you to sign up and walk, too.

Kevin Muldoon knows what life is like when seizures are a very real, constant threat, when you struggle with speech and coordination, when you miss days of school because you're in the hospital, or when your medication makes it impossible to work.

He knows because he's lived it and he's eager to help others with epilepsy, his brother Mike Muldoon says.

Mike Muldoon will join his brother - and the family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances Kevin Muldoon has recruited - in the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 25, at Cantigny, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. A second walk continues the fundraising May 9 at Chicago's Montrose Harbor.

Today, Mike Muldoon of LaGrange tells us more about his brother Kevin's experience with epilepsy.

I have a brother, Kevin, who is 50 years old and has been struggling with epilepsy since he was 2.

In the early years he struggled with his speech, his coordination and cognitive skills. While his doctors were constantly tweaking his medications, we never knew when he was going to suffer another violent seizure. It was scary for us growing up and must have been 10 times scarier for him. When he was a young boy he often had to spend multiple days in the hospital. Yet Kevin never complained.

Kevin got through school, graduating from Oak Park River Forest High School. He eventually found employment at Mullins Food Products, where he worked for years until the crippling medication he was forced to take every day to fight the seizures overwhelmed him and kept him from continuing.

He finally got a measure of relief from his most debilitating symptoms when he underwent a risky brain surgery. He has been much better ever since.

Kevin has been an inspiration not only to me and our other five siblings, but also to anyone who comes into contact with him. His perpetual optimism, his absolute refusal to think of himself as disabled in any way, and his courage in the face of some very intimidating and daunting medical procedures over his lifetime has shaped him into someone who is respected rather than pitied.

When Kevin first heard of the epilepsy walk a few years ago, he jumped in with both feet. He started by recruiting family members, then friends, then friends of family members. Now nobody who knows Kevin is safe from being asked to join Kevin's Clan - and all are more than happy to get involved, either by walking or donating. He has coaxed two friends of our sister Sheila - Mary Kelly and Jeanne Dealba - to become his co-captains, and things have really taken off thanks to the time and effort put in by Kevin, Mary and Jeanne.

It should be noted that in Kevin's annual email to all of us regarding the walk, he never once refers to himself. He asks that we get involved to help the "millions of kids" afflicted with epilepsy. This exhibition of selflessness is typical of Kevin.

The walk is a great opportunity for those of us who are able to make it to get together to show Kevin - by our actions rather than our words - how proud we are of him, how much we love him and how much we want to help him. Those who can't make it show him the same things by donating.

This year he has donations from California, Washington, Arizona and other states. After the walk, we all enjoy a delicious brunch at the home of Michael and Peggy Walsh in Wheaton.

So why do we participate? It's a great reason for old friends to get together for a great cause - to show Kevin we love him - and to help Kevin help the "millions of kids" with epilepsy.

If you go

What: Greater Chicago Epilepsy 5K Run/Walk

When: Fun run/walk begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25; on-site registration opens at 8 a.m.

Where: Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton

Cost: $25 for adults, $15 for ages 5 to 12 in advance; $10 more on site; free for younger children

More: A second walk begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 9, from Montrose Harbor, 601 W. Montrose Drive, Chicago

Info: epilepsychicago.org