Fundraiser completes 27 races after sister’s epilepsy death
Over 1,000 people die from epilepsy-related causes in the UK each year, roughly three every day.
For Barry Ahearn, this stark statistic became painfully personal after his sister, Abbie, passed away following a severe seizure just six weeks after her epilepsy diagnosis.
Determined to ensure Abbie is not “just one of the three,” Barry has undertaken a remarkable fundraising challenge.
“I didn’t fully understand the severity of epilepsy when Abbie had her first seizure,” Barry says. “It wasn’t until she was formally diagnosed that I realised how common and serious it can be. Raising awareness about epilepsy is so important because it shouldn’t be taken lightly. It impacts lives drastically.”
Over the past year, Barry has completed 27 half-marathons, including the London Bridges Half, Carsington Water, and even 21km solo runs in his local park, where he ran up and down the same path 55 times.
Some races were organised events, others solo efforts. Throughout, he was supported by friends, family, and fellow runners.
The emotional toll was significant. “The solo runs were the toughest. Sometimes I would be thinking about Abbie, which added to the emotions.
But seeing my family and friends cheering with banners made all the difference,” Barry explains.
In a deeply personal tribute, Barry mapped his runs around places meaningful to Abbie, including her local pub, her primary and secondary schools, the hospital she was born at, and their childhood home.
His wife, Naomi, has been by his side for every run, filming, organising spectators, and even running parts of the routes herself.
On the final run at the Battersea Park Half, 40 runners joined Barry, while around 150 spectators cheered them on, creating an emotional day he describes as “mixed emotions, tears before, during, and after.”
Barry’s challenge also aims to raise vital funds for Epilepsy Action, the UK charity supporting people living with epilepsy. Together with his team, he has raised nearly £22,000 to help fund services including Talk & Support groups, one-to-one befriending, and the charity’s helpline.
Jon Eaton, Epilepsy Action said this to us:
“Unfortunately, death from epilepsy is actually surprisingly common. There are over 600,000 people in the UK living with epilepsy, and more than 1,000 die every year from epilepsy-related causes.
“In Barry’s case, the cause was SUDEP — sudden unexpected death in epilepsy — which can happen at any time. That’s when someone goes into a seizure and doesn’t come out of it.
“A lot of families don’t even know SUDEP is a risk, but there are steps you can take — like speaking to medical professionals and using seizure detection devices, which can be genuine lifesavers.”
“Whether this saves just one life, the chances are now slightly higher thanks to everyone involved,” says Barry.
Barry also highlights the challenges faced by families and individuals living with epilepsy.
“Access to care and support is limited. Some people experience discrimination in the workplace. We need to do more to give people equal opportunities to live normal lives and take precautions to reduce risks.”
To support Barry and the ongoing work of Epilepsy Action, donations can be made via his JustGiving page