Honoring the Danny Did Foundation

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) gave the following statement in recognition of the Danny Did Foundation:

Mister Speaker, an estimated 50,000 people die every year as a result of seizures. Some of those victims are youngsters like Danny Stanton.

Chicagoans Mike and Mariann Stanton founded the Danny Did Foundation after their four-year old son Danny died from a seizure while he was sleeping.

The Foundation is dedicated to preventing deaths caused by seizures and raising epilepsy awareness among the public and medical community.

That's no small task, but one brave seven-year old is taking a courageous step to help raise awareness of epilepsy's dangers.

Nick Curley never met Danny, but Nick's cousin Jenny suffers from seizures. Nick has always helped out epilepsy charities in small ways, but felt the need to do something bigger.

As an enthusiastic hockey player, he decided to combine his love for the sport and passion for charity to create "100 Miles for Danny.

The young athlete visited twenty different rinks in the Chicago area and skated five miles, or 50 laps, at each rink. His goal has been to raise money and awareness for epilepsy, as well as the Danny Did Foundation.

I had the honor and pleasure to skate with Nick on two separate occasions.

Not only is he an impressive skater, but his dedication to educating the public about the perils of epilepsy is extraordinary. Nick's determination and warm heart sets a powerful example for us all--one that I will not soon forget.

On Danny's first day of preschool, he told his teacher "I just want to learn. Like Danny, the Foundation aims to educate the general public and the medical community about this misunderstood disease.

I admire the efforts of the Danny Did Foundation and heroes like Nick Curley, who truly enjoys life, just like Danny Did.