You can take part in a good old fashioned hoe-down this weekend for a good cause.

The Second Annual Charity Hoe-Down to End Epilepsy is returning this Saturday at the Victory Tavern. There will be games, door prizes, a raffle table, 50/50 draw, prizes for best cowboy/cowgirl costume, and, for a donation, you can jail a friend or family member. All proceeds will be going to the Seizure and Brain Injury Centre in Timmins.

This year, there will be a pre-party from 3-7 on December 1st. That’s when attendees can expect to see MP Charlie Angus, MPP Gilles Bisson, and Mayor-elect George Pirie make an appearance. It’s rumored that Charlie Angus might even sing a few songs.

Then, starting at 9 PM, the headlining band Whiskey Runners will perform. There will be two 50/50 draws for the event, one during the afternoon pre-party and one in the evening.

This event is personal for Jessica Palubiskie, who announced at the inaugural event last year that she has epilepsy and suffers from seizures.

“I have epilepsy and have been epileptic since I was a baby,” Jessica said. “Last year I first came out with my epilepsy to most of my friends and […] actually to everyone. The support actually has been amazing. I couldn’t ask for better.”

Jessica says she’s received support from people all over the world through her followers on Facebook. She’s been sharing her story and talking to other groups on social media about her epilepsy. She was recently asked to write a lifetime story for the Seizure and Brain Injury Centre to be posted on the Ontario Epilepsy website. Jessica says her story has touched others and encouraged some to reach out to her.

“I’ve had one person that saw my story on Timmins Today last year,” she said, “and I’ve kept in contact with her, thanking me from coming out with it. And she was from the U.S.”

Jessica said she was scared to come out with her story last year for fear of being seen differently by friends.

“I was scared in the way people react to me. I was scared that people would treat me different. And I still get it sometimes; I still have it where some people do treat me different.”

One of the reactions people had for Jessica was asking questions about the condition and what to do if someone you know has a seizure.

One misconception about helping someone who is having a seizure is to put something in their mouth so they can’t bite their tongue. This could actually cause more damage. According to the Ontario Epilepsy website, if someone is having a seizure in front of you, you should remain calm, move any sharp objects out of the way, put something soft under their head if they fall, and roll them onto their side.

“People are listening and people are wanting to learn,” said Jessica. “This year, for the fundraiser, a big thing for me is the awareness part. I want people to know what to do, I want people, not just to raise the money, because it’s a great cause and I love the cause, but also get to raise awareness for everything that they’re doing.”

The Hoe-Down to End Epilepsy raised $2,100 last year. This year, organizers are hoping to exceed that number because they’re extending the event and including the pre-party (starting at 3 PM) and an extra 50/50 draw. Jessica says she’s had a lot of support from the community for prizes, including a donation from Cedar Meadows for the door prize for two spa passes.

Jessica says coming out with her epilepsy last year, while very scary, was one of the best things she’s ever done. She’s encouraging others to share their stories as well.

“Everybody with seizures and any kind of brain injury, if anybody comes out with a story, it brings awareness. And people do listen. And people aren’t as scared of you.”

For more on the Timmins Seizure and Brain Injury Centre, you can visit their website.

 

–With files from Timmins Today

 

 

Filed under: Local News