October Tour de Midnight rides will benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. -- Next month a number of bike rides will depart from Goochland’s Midnight Brewery, as well as from Caboose Brewing in Vienna, Virginia, and Frothy Moon Brewhouse in Williamsburg.

The newly-expanded Tour de Midnight events on October 21 will all offer stunning views of the Virginia countryside at the same time help the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia (EFVA).

And best of all, you can choose your distance: 65 miles, 33 miles or 17 miles.

Dennis Terry is the event director who has been involved with EFVA for more than a decade, ever since his daughter developed epileptic seizures when she was a student at the University of Richmond.

The event is their largest annual fundraiser. “The money raised here will benefit so many families,” Terry said. “This is a life-changing condition and it’s important for people to know where they find help. The Tour de Midnight does so much to bring awareness about epilepsy, and that alone makes a positive impact on affected families.”

Terry said his daughter began having seizures when she was in college in 2011.

"She was in her third year, when one came out of nowhere, then later, multiple seizures," Terry said. "We went to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with epilepsy. We immediately started working to find the medication or the device that would control the seizure activity. And you just keep trying different things until you get the best outcome you can."

Terry pointed out that his daughter has recently gotten great results from a drug that had been taken off the market, but which was brought back under tighter regulations and only for certain patients. "It's the first time that she's gone almost two months without a seizure just because of the change in medication," said Terry.

The Tour de Midnight event draws hundreds of riders each year. And while the main ride with still start and end at Goochland's Midnight Brewery, the Vienna and Williamsburg rides will pull in even more fundraising cyclists.

"We decided to change things up this year and add a little twist: we've got two satellite locations," said Terry. "The riders can ride their own rides there and then come to one of the two great breweries and take part in the after-ride party with a video link-up to Midnight Brewery. We'll have an epilepsy hero speaking at each of the locations, broadcast to all the locations. That way, everyone will be taking part in the festivities."

Terry said the rides would not be possible without the support of UCB, SK Life Science, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and iNova.

If you would to register for a ride, click here.

If you would like to learn more about the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia, click here.:

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