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Vanessa Simione-Mazzocco

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$674

My Goal

$500

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My Activity Tracking

180
kms

My target 50 kms

I’m taking part in Walk for Epilepsy around Australia because...

I want to raise money and make a difference for people living with epilepsy. Please help me by giving whatever you can using the 'Give Now' button. The more people that know about the walk, the greater the impact, so please also spread the word by sharing our page with your friends and family. Thank you in advance for your generosity, it means a lot!

My Achievements

First donation

50% of Fundraising Goals Badge

75% of Fundraising Goals Badge

100% of Fundraising Goals Badge

Logged first KM

50% Distance Target

100% Distance Target

Shared page

Added blog post

My Updates

3 days left!

Friday 23rd Oct
Only a few more days to get my walk on for epilepsy! Hoping I can quadruple my personal goal - cross fingers

One of the Lucky Ones

Monday 12th Oct
I’m one of the lucky ones, generally speaking. I have been blessed with 2 wonderful children (they’re actually pretty cool), a thoughtful, kind and hard working husband, surrounded by family, and friends whose love and support I couldn’t be without. The cherry on top is I’ve managed to have an exciting career and I still have a passion for my work. I am filled with gratitude for all the people and experiences I’ve had in my life. One repetitive, yet sometimes baffling, experience is being confronted with “oh, I couldn’t tell you had epilepsy, you don’t look like one”. This remark can often feel annoying. I mean, what does an epileptic look like? Most of the time, I know this comment is delivered with positive intent, it's just not well framed. This statement, has over the years, built on my gratitude. You see, in terms of living with epilepsy, I am still one of the lucky ones. I'm only one shade of what epilepsy looks like in a rainbow of symptoms and severities.

Most of my life experiences has been much for muchness to that of the next person, epilepsy hasn’t really stopped me from living out my dreams. Yes, there have circumstances where I had to lean on the side of caution, or mange things slightly differently. Yes, there have been pharmaceutical side effects, pregnancy considerations, harder and more difficult complications when it comes to stress, fatigue and hormones (my main triggers). I suffer from bad days because of my epilepsy, we all suffer from bad days for different reasons. But really, I can care for myself and my children without supervision and that’s the main thing. At the moment (and maybe forever), I am unable to drive due to recent seizures (25 + years tonic clonic free until last year). I have to giggle though, I never really cared for driving anyway. It is inconvenient with two children, not to drive, but there are different ways to jump life’s hurdles. 

Here’s the thing, having a form of epilepsy that isn’t intensive as some fellow epileptics, I know I have a lot to be grateful for. There are those whose journey with epilepsy has been very difficult. They are strongly reliant on others for assistance, and in many ways, it has defined their day to day life. Variations of epilepsy are everywhere, and each persons path and symptoms are different. I am Walking for Epilepsy  to raise awareness for the degrees of suffering of the 1 in 25 diagnosed Australia wide. For those who suffer from tonic clonic / grand mal, daily or weekly. For those who have sleep seizures. For those who have petit mal and blank out a few seconds at a time. For those who suffer physical or mental injuries post seizures. For those women who know their monthly cycle brings more than just cramps. For those children who feel ostracised because the other kids think they’re weird. For the parents of epileptic children who feel their kids pain. Or for someone like me, who hears “I couldn’t tell you had epilepsy, you don’t look like one”, and left to think how grateful I am that I am functioning, and how much more we need to educate and bring awareness so that epilepsy hasn’t got a defined state or “look”. Epilepsy is a common condition, and every person who is diagnosed with it, most importantly, is recognised as a person. Everyone needs help from time to time, and just like epileptics, no one should go through a difficult time alone.

Sunny Day!

Saturday 10th Oct
Great day out Walking for Epilepsy

Team Vanessa - Family Walk Day

Monday 5th Oct
Beautiful day for it!

Thank you to my Sponsors

$104.40

Anthony Capabo

Great stuff Ness! Hope you and the family are well.

$104.40

Casabella Finance

Well done Vanessa.

$100

Andrea Bussone

Forza Nessy 😘

$52.20

Fiona

Love you babe xx

$52.20

Karen Fisher

Go Ness!! Kaz xxx

$52.20

Drakakis Family

$52.20

Jessica Zaccheo

So proud of you xoxo

$52.20

Marelle Singh

❤️

$26.10

Anonymous

$26.10

Melissa Tonks

$26.10

Amanda Grima

$26.10

Linda

Go Ness!

Our Team