(Madera, CA) - If you were at Valley Children’s Hospital on Saturday, Nov. 24, you may have smelled churros in the air and seen patients walking through the parking lot with festive artwork painted on their faces. This was just some of the fun enjoyed by those who attended the inaugural Epilepsy Awareness Children’s Carnival, hosted by the Valley Children’s Neuroscience team in recognition of Epilepsy Awareness Month.
The goal of this event was to raise awareness and decrease stigma around epilepsy while educating families in a safe, fun and friendly environment. Families who attended this event received a “scavenger hunt” card that encouraged them to visit different vendors, allowed them to receive free food and explore kid-friendly activities such as carnival games and the bubble station.
“This event was a wonderful opportunity to give back to our patients and their families while letting them connect with one another in a friendly environment,” explains Valley Children’s Social Worker Caitlin Bernard-Vincent. “This carnival was amazing, with more than 200 attendees, 10 on-site sponsors, eight vendors and more than 30 volunteers. This event would not have been possible without the hard work from everyone.”
Learn more about Valley Children's level 4 epilepsy center at valleychildrens.org/epilepsy.