Dancing raises funds, awareness of epilepsy

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 2/26/15

The Learning Garden in Warwick was all about crazy hats and crazy dance moves Thursday morning for the 2nd annual Matty Hatty Dance-A-Thon.

For an hour the pre-schoolers danced to “Frozen” …

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Dancing raises funds, awareness of epilepsy

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The Learning Garden in Warwick was all about crazy hats and crazy dance moves Thursday morning for the 2nd annual Matty Hatty Dance-A-Thon.

For an hour the pre-schoolers danced to “Frozen” songs, Taylor Swift, and “What did the Fox Say” to help raise money for the Matty Fund.

The Matty Fund is an Epilepsy Resource Center, started in 2003 by the parents of Matty Siravo, who died due to a prolonged seizure.

Based out of Wakefield, The Matty Fund provides support for children and families living with epilepsy.

One of those families is the Vecchios, whose 4-year-old Emily has epilepsy and attends the Learning Garden daycare on Warwick Neck.

Emily was diagnosed with epilepsy at 13 months old and a few months later, the Vecchios found the Matty Fund. Ever since, they have been involved with the organization. Phil Vecchio, Emily’s father, is a board member for the Matty Fund.

Brenda Vecchio, Emily’s mother, said, “The Matty Fund found a way to take a tragedy and took it as a chance to help families. There is still a stigma out there, but when families can get together and it’s normalized, we can feel normal for a while.”

Nicole Ingram, family outreach coordinator for the Matty Fund, said, “The Matty Fund is great because it has really created a safe space, a support system for parents and children alike.”

The Matty Hatty Dance-A-Thon is also a way to spread awareness and teach kids about epilepsy.

Brenda said, “Awareness is so important, a way to teach them how to be a good friend to someone who has epilepsy. How to be a good friend to Emily and understand that it is a medical issue Emily is dealing with.”

Before the tunes started and the feet began moving, the kids sat and listened to “My Friend Matty,” a children’s book that helps to explain epilepsy and what to do.

Ingram said, “At this age we are showing them just how to be a good friend. Seizures can be scary, but knowing what to do can alleviate some of that fear. At this point, we just tell them to find an adult to find them help.”

She said epilepsy awareness is crucial in a classroom, especially when there is a student who has it, like Emily. At such a young age, the kids are taught just to find an adult and get help.

Along with reducing the fear if Emily were to have a seizure in the classroom, having the kids understand the condition also breaks down the stigma surrounding epilepsy.

The Matty Fund hosts awareness events in schools throughout Rhode Island all the way up through the college level.

Ingram said that when children know about epilepsy, how and why seizures occur, there is a decreased chance of bullying the child with epilepsy.

“By teaching kids about it, parents can feel better about sending their kids to school and knowing they can feel normal. It’s about giving our kids a chance to own it and be proud of all they have accomplished and been through rather than embarrassed,” she said.

Raquel Fortuna, owner of the Learning Garden, said, “I think it is awesome for kids to learn not only how to be supportive, but also how to be charitable at such a young age. We love Emily and we are happy to show her friendship and support.”

All together, the Learning Garden’s Matty Hatty Dance-A-Thon raised $346 and they plan to continue participating in Matty Fund fundraisers.

For more information on the Matty Fund, visit their website at mattyfund.org.

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