NEW YORK, NY – Greek News USA
The Joanna Sophia Foundation will host its 6th Annual “Joanna Sophia’s 5k Fun Run/Walk” on Saturday, June 21 at 10 a.m. to raise awareness about epilepsy and SUDEP, fund critical research and support families in need.
The foundation, is hosting this unique annual event in memory of Joanna Sophia Ioannou, a vibrant 9-year-old who passed away in her sleep in November 2018 from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).
The Fun Run / Walk will start from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, NY and will end at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Whitestone, NY and promises a festive, family-friendly 5K experience with music performances from around the world at each kilometer, huge inflatables, and a festival at the finish-line with a celebration filled with entertainment, food, and fun. It’s a day of fitness, fun, and philanthropy for all ages.
According to a press release, thanks to the unwavering support of the community, the Joanna Sophia Foundation has proudly achieved incredible milestones. Inter alia, it reached over one million individuals to raise epilepsy and SUDEP awareness worldwide, it raised $250,000 to fund the Joanna Sophia Research Grant in partnership with Cure Epilepsy, supporting the critical SUDEP research, it provided direct financial assistance to families with children living with epilepsy and hosted their first international Fun Run/Walk in Tanzania to help break the stigma surrounding epileps
Cure Epilepsy will be joining this year’s Fun Run/Walk, offering an opportunity for participants to meet and learn more about the groundbreaking research projects and the grant that the Joanna Sophia Research has helped make possible. Additionally, the Foundation has expanded its efforts by partnering with the Danny Did Foundation to provide families in the Tristate area with life-saving seizure detection devices, further enhancing safety and awareness in our epilepsy community.
It is estimated that approximately 3.4 million in the United States have active epilepsy, and more than 65 million globally. Additionally, 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy at some point during their lifetime. Epilepsy can begin at any age. Studies haven’t identified a prime diagnosis time, but the incidence rate is highest in young children under 2 and adults aged 65 or older.
The organizers extend their invitation to the community to join them on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 10 a.m. for a day of fitness, fun, and philanthropy “as we honor Joanna’s life and empower families affected by epilepsy. Together, we can create change, save lives, and raise the voices of families worldwide. #LetJoannaInspireYou”.
To register, sponsor, or learn more, visit joannasophiafoundation.org.
The Joanna Sophia Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing public awareness of epilepsy, supporting SUDEP research, and providing financial assistance to families caring for children with epilepsy.
