Minnesota Golden Gophers head football coach Jerry Kill and the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota have teamed up to start a program dedicated to generating money to help teach students in schools about epilepsy.
The foundation is called “Chasing Dreams with Coach Kill.”
Kill, his wife Rebecca and members of the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota unveiled the fund at a press conference at Kieran’s Irish Pub in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday. Kill was dressed in Minnesota Twins gear as he was set to throw out the first pitch before today’s Twins-Red Sox game at Target Field.
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According to Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune, the fund will help finance seizure-smart school initiatives and Camp Oz. Camp Oz is for boys and girls with seizures, ages 9-17, at YMCA’s Camp St. Croix near Hudson, Wisconsin.
Thursday is Rise Above Seizures Day, according to KSTP. Minnesota recognizes the day by raising awareness with educational events and distributing 60,000 balloons “in recognition of the 60,000 people in our community with epilepsy,” the Foundation’s website says.
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Kill’s epilepsy has gained national attention because he’s suffered seizures during nationally televised games.
Last October, before Minnesota was set to play the Michigan Wolverines, Kill suffered a seizure that forced him to take a leave of absence “to focus on his treatment and better manage his epilepsy,” he said, as reported by USA Today. It was his fifth public seizure-related episode since joining the Gophers in 2010.
Minnesota finished the season 8-5 en route to a second consecutive bowl game.
Kill also commented on former Gophers quarterback Philip Nelson, who has been charged with felony assault from a weekend fight in Mankato.
Kill statement on Philip Nelson: "What happened was a tragic situation, and I'm sending my thoughts and prayers to all families involved."
— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) May 15, 2014
