LOCAL TEEN RIDES FOR MOM
Fundraiser for epilepsy awareness
The biggest diagnosis in 15-yearold Chase Cartwright’s life wasn’t his. When he was 11, his mother Judy was diagnosed with debilitating seizures.
In 2010, Cartwright started having five seizures a week, which became so severe that she had to stop driving and working. The single mother of three was forced to rely on her family for support.
“But he (my son) started taking control of the situation … he realized how much he felt once he learned about it,” she said. “I think it made him feel like he could teach his other friends at school.”
Chase started giving speeches and holding awareness campaigns at his school.
“I decided to make it bigger,” he said.
So last year, he started a bike fundraiser. That campaign raised $7,500 — far surpassing his $5,000 target, and he’s trying to outdo that this year.
On Monday, the teen started pedalling his bike from Queen’s Park in Toronto, stopping in London and Chatham’s Ursuline College. He was to arrive in Windsor, his hometown, on Thursday.
“I’m tired but today was a good day, I kept a good pace,” he said hunched over his new bike as he arrived in Chatham on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday, Chase had already raised $5,000.
“Every few minutes I have to not cry or when I see him hanging his head ’cause I know it’s tough,” his mom said. “But he keeps going and it makes me very proud.”
Tabitha Cook from Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario for Chatham-Kent said “it’s really wonderful to see someone so young and passionate about the condition and (who) wants to raise awareness.”
Last year, the family set up the Chase Cartwright discretionary fund to pay for specialized antisuffocation pillows and other medical devices, such as helmets, which are available to seizure clients who cannot afford them.
“He’s such a sweet kid … he just knows that he was grateful that his mom has one and it helped him feel better about her safety,” said Michelle Franklin, the executive director of the organization. “So he wanted everyone to have access to it.
“He is courageous and strongwilled and determined as well as compassionate,” she added. “I don’t think he realizes the impact of what he’s doing — he’s raising so much awareness, which is amazing.”
Four years ago, Cartwright discovered Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario and — after being helped by the group — became a board member for Windsor-Essex six months ago.
“We’ve kind of learned to adapt,” she said.
The family is still hopeful that one day she’ll find the right medication to keep her convulsive seizures completely at bay, she added.