The Mark Shaparin Foundation Launches The Escargot Challenge to Raise Awareness of Largely Unknown Fatal Complication of Epilepsy - SUDEP

The Social Media Challenge Honors the Memory of 10-Year-Old Mark Who Died in His Sleep

, /PRNewswire/ -- Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is a fatal complication of epilepsy that is not commonly recognized by the public, or even by medical providers. SUDEP, the most common cause of death in people with epilepsy or other seizure disorders, causes approximately 3,000 deaths per year in the United States, but it is not included in medical textbooks or routinely taught in medical school.

After suffering the devastating loss of their son Mark, Dr. Naum Shaparin and Joanne Tzanos created The Mark Shaparin Foundation to honor the life and legacy of Mark, a previously healthy fifth-grader who loved food, exploring the outdoors and music. In April 2024, Mark had a seizure unexpectedly and after many tests and medical appointments was diagnosed with a type of epilepsy that most children outgrow. Tragically, Mark had another seizure in his sleep two weeks later and never woke up.

The Mark Shaparin Foundation leads educational initiatives for healthcare providers and families across the country to increase knowledge and raise awareness about SUDEP, risk factors and ways to prevent it. As part of these efforts, The Mark Shaparin Foundation is launching "The Escargot Challenge" where people are encouraged to post a video of themselves on social media, eating escargot, or a chocolate or gummy snail, in honor of Mark, who had sophisticated taste for a 10-year-old. The goal is to gain traction for the cause so more people can be educated about SUDEP and ultimately reduce the incidence of these devastating deaths.

"We hope people will accept The Escargot Challenge as a joyful testament to Mark's love of food and zest for life," said dad Dr. Naum Shaparin. "And we also want it to leave an imprint on people who may never have known about SUDEP but will now be informed. We were never told about SUDEP and never saw references to it online, despite our vast research when Mark was diagnosed with epilepsy. Our ultimate goal is to prevent future tragedies for other families."

To participate in the #Escargot4Epilepsy Challenge, go to Instagram, X, Facebook or LinkedIn.

About The Mark Shaparin Foundation

The Mark Shaparin Foundation was founded by Dr. Naum Shaparin and Joanne Tzanos in 2024 to celebrate the life of their son, Mark Shaparin. The Mark Shaparin Foundation honors the life and legacy of Mark through awareness, education, and action to prevent Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) with the goal of saving lives.

Contact: [email protected] 

SOURCE The Mark Shaparin Foundation