About 5 months ago, the epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio in Dayton received a phone call from a gentleman who had recently been diagnosed with epilepsy. He was seeking information and support as he tried to come to terms with his seizure disorder.

As the staff of the Epilepsy Foundation came to know him it became evident that he was a man of courage and determination. He developed an idea for a fundraiser and an opportunity to educate about epilepsy that would allow him to give this devastating situation a positive spin.

Captain John O'Grady's story begins on April 20, 2000. O'Grady, an international B767 captain for UPS, stopped for breakfast on his way home from an international flight. Two hours later he woke up in a hospital near Cincinnati. Confused, disoriented, body aching he was told he had had a tonic clonic (grand mal) seizure. "I was wondering," he said," why it happened to me,". He could not remember the phone numbers of family members or friends to come to get him and he could not drive himself home to Bellbrook.

O'Grady's whole life changed in a matter of seconds. Not only would he never again fly an airplane after 23 years as a pilot, he had to give up his 17-year business flying hot air balloons and his powered paraglider. "I can't believe I can't fly," he said. "Watching the sunrise from 40,000feet- it doesn't get any better than that. I even dream about flying. And now I won't be able to do it again." No longer able to drive a car, he bicycles wherever he needs to go.

It was at that point O'Grady, 43, contacted the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio, the only non-profit agency that serves those affected by epilepsy in Montgomery County. He discovered that the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio was struggling to find new funding sources to develop several programs and services that will reach the thousands of persons in Epilepsy Foundation 11 county area who, like O'Grady, are affected by epilepsy.

O'Grady came up with a plan to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation , Pilots for Kids, and Jr. Balloonists. He decided to bicycle from Dayton to Albuquerque, NM. Leaving Dayton on September 25th, he plans to arrive in Albuquerque on October 6th for the opening of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Although, unable to fly a balloon this year he will work as a ground crew member.

He also intends to educate as many people as possible about epilepsy along the way. "That's the thing about epilepsy," he said, "It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, your age or what color you are-it doesn't discriminate." He will be stopping at elementary schools to talk to kids about the importance of wearing helmets when bicycling, skateboarding, etc.

What the future holds for O'Grady remains uncertain. However, with his positive outlook, his determination to transcend the limitations of epilepsy and his desire to help others his future will assuredly be a full and bright one.

Penny-a-mile pledges for the 1600 mile John O'Grady Charity Ride can be emailed to

EFWO@att.net

or call in your pledge to the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio at 937-222-0127. Visit the John O'Grady Charity Ride website:

http://johnscharityride@tripod.com