Become a Virtual Shipmate
A motto that Phil lives by is “I Can and I Will”, something his grandma used to say to him when he was struggling with seizures, the side effects of medication, and falling behind in school. It’s a reminder to anyone living with a disability that you CAN get through a challenge and you WILL overcome it.
Phil still uses this attitude to push himself to live his fullest life possible. He takes One More Step by sailing the oceans of the world. Is there something you CAN do, that you’ve never done before? Decide today that you WILL do it, with the necessary safety measures in place!
Join our crew as a Virtual Shipmate by participating in our One More Step Challenge! To recognize your courage, we’ll add your first name to our boat so that you can come along for this exciting voyage. Click the button below sign up and we’ll add your story (and photo, if you send us one) to the map above after we review your submission.
Not only will your name be added to the boat, but several times during our voyages, we will pick one Virtual Shipmate to feature. By sharing your inspirational stories, we will raise awareness not only about epilepsy but about ways that people with epilepsy aren’t letting this disorder prevent them from living their fullest life possible. Featured Virtual Shipmates will receive a Sail For Epilepsy flag that was flown on the day they were highlighted, with the noon position and their name written on the flag.
I’m taking One More Step by…
Image | Title | Content | Tags |
---|---|---|---|
John | Climbing mountains for epilepsy awareness. Sun Prairie, Wisconsin (United States) | awareness, health & fitness | |
Jake | Learning to play guitar! Uxbridge, Massachusetts (United States) | new skill | |
Bryanna | Joining the dance club at my college and becoming a nurse in the neurology field to help others dealing with epilepsy! Pelham, New Hampshire (United States) | awareness | |
Heather | My goal is that I want to make steps towards helping people feel less alone through my poetry books and self help book I have self published. Plainville, Connecticut (United States) | support | |
Denise | Challenging myself to exercise more. Drayden, Maryland (United States) | health & fitness | |
Jonathan | I am looking to help the organization in some way. Canal Reach, Hampshire (United Kingdom) | support | |
Jodie | I am willing to try my best at anything, if it possibly cure my seizures and those of all others… Ellijay, Georgia (United States) | positive attitude | |
Cliff | Learning abstract algebra and continuing to maintain good mental health through regular exercise, and better self-care. Lancaster, Pennsylvania (United States) | education, health & fitness | |
Kaiden | Moving out on my own and living a life style free from the anxiety of being alone. I haven’t had a seizure in 3 years but it still remains in the back of my head and frequently pops up giving me panic attacks. Prior Lake, MN (United States) | health & fitness | |
Dorothy | I live with Epilepsy. For many years I have walked to raise awareness and money for The NW Foundation. My One More Step is to never give up and continue to show support for others living with Epilepsy. Spokane, WA (United States) | support | |
Erika | Advocating for Epilepsy in SC as Mrs.South Carolina Captivating Queen 2024. Simpsonville, South Carolina (United States) | awareness | |
Heather | Previous to my myoclonus, I was a great cook and loved being in the kitchen. Fear of my hands jerking has kept me from doing any cooking for a long time. I want to get over that fear (with my rescue med and proper supervision) and realize that I can go one more step. So, I have signed up for a 12-session Culinary Academy. The staff have welcomed me despite the concern and I look forward to starting on July 8. I also look forward to succeeding! Sarasota, Florida (United States) | new skill | |
Remington | Playing sports and chasing my dream to become a real estate agent. Martinsville, Indiana (United States) | health & fitness, new skill | |
Sequoia | Finding something I can safely do while having auras and grand mal seizures every month. Nevada City, California (United States) | positive attitude | |
Anya | Going on my first vacation by myself instead of hiding in my room. Plainfield, Illinois (United States) | positive attitude | |
Robin | Defining realistic goals. Morris, Connecticut (United States) | positive attitude | |
Vincent | Clean up my room. New Orleans, Louisiana (United States) | health & fitness | |
Kyler | Taking a sail in a boat. I have never been before. I have epilepsy. Carville, Louisiana (United States) | adventure | |
Aaron | Learning more about epilepsy and helping others. St. Gabriel, Louisiana (United States) | education, support | |
Carla | Walk another mile. Tampa, Florida (United States) | health & fitness | |
Marlin | Hiking in the west mountains. Tampa, Florida (United States) | health & fitness | |
Jessie | Be more present. Tampa, Florida (United States) | positive attitude | |
Kayla | By going to the gym every day. Tampa, Florida (United States) | health & fitness | |
Parker | Be better at riding a scooter. Tampa, Florida (United States) | new skill | |
Cristina | Taking more time off work. Seminole, Florida (United States) | health & fitness | |
Gregory | Be a wide receiver. Tampa, Florida (United States) | new skill | |
Alexandra | Become a veterinarian. Tampa, Florida (United States) | education | |
Mason | Get an MD and do research into epilepsy. Valrico, Florida (United States) | ||
Carolina | Get back into softball and lifting weights. Tampa, Florida (United States) | health & fitness | |
Cristina | Paddleboarding, hiking, lifting weights. Guam | health & fitness | |
Freya | I will encourage my son, Joshua, to live his life fully, with safety guardrails, regardless of his epilepsy. I will educate more people about epilepsy. Sarasota, Florida (United States) | ||
Joshua | Inform more people about epilepsy and how they can help others. Sarasota, Florida (United States) | ||
Evelyn | To learn more about epilepsy. Sarasota, Florida (United States) | ||
Ellerie | I can and I will learn to sail. Sarasota, Florida (United States) | ||
Peter | Get better at my new job to make my mother proud. Sarasota, Florida (United States) | ||
Melanie | I am going to commit to not allowing my fear of SUDEP impact or limit my son into living a fuller life. Apollo Beach, Florida (United States) | ||
Paige | Gaining confidence in epilepsy. Sarasota, Florida (United States) | ||
Laura | Publishing a book that will increase readers’ awareness about epilepsy’s challenges. (More information about the book here) Somerville, Massachusetts (United States) | awareness | |
David | Educating people about Epilepsy. Rockford, Illinois (United States) | awareness | |
Sophie | Playing volleyball. Summerville, South Carolina (United States) | health & fitness | |
Isabella | Educating others about Epilepsy. Monterey Park, California (United States) | awareness | |
Babette | Doing the 40miles in 40 days challenge for epilepsy. Surrey (United Kingdom) | health & fitness | |
Judi | Continue my Ski Instructing career. Setting a goal to ski Highland Bowl within a few years. Get past my self-consciousness about seizures, and help others learn more about epilepsy. Aspen, Colorado (United States) | health & fitness | |
Suzanne | Trying to go for a walk every day to help improve my breathing and gain more exercise. Although I don t have epilepsy, my daughter has has it all her life, with a lot of her seizures being uncontrolled with medication. I’m here to support my daughter through her lifelong journey with epilepsy. Burnaby, BC (Canada) | health & fitness | |
Addie | I want to be a professional gymnast. Snohomish, WA (United States) | health & fitness, new skill | |
Adrian | Visiting one new country every year. Monroe, WA (United States) | adventure | |
Matt | Playing more catch with my dad. Bothell, WA (United States) | health & fitness | |
Owen | Learn to ride my bike. Everson, WA (United States) | new skill | |
Thalia | Write her name, address, phone # as well as be able to speak more clearly. Spanaway, WA (United States) | new skill | |
Max | Making it to the MLB. Seabrook, WA (United States) | health & fitness | |
Gabe | Coming back to camp next year! Spokane, WA (United States) | adventure | |
Jude | Share info about epilepsy. Spokane, WA (United States) | awareness | |
Cindy | Roller skating. Vancouver, BC (Canada) | new skill | |
Grey | Learn to play guitar with earplugs to reduce sound. Burnaby, BC (Canada) | new skill | |
Jacquoline | Moving to Thailand. Surrey, BC (Canada) | adventure | |
Beth | Reaching out / staying in touch with my friends and family that are out of town. Every month I will try and call or message one or more of them. Burnaby, BC (Canada) | health & fitness | |
Francine | Finding a suitable epileptologist. Surrey, BC (Canada) | health & fitness | |
Arman | Run a marathon. Learn to rock climb. Victoria, BC (Canada) | health & fitness | |
Garett | Going to the golf course to practice for the regionals next year in the Special Olympics. Victoria, BC (Canada) | health & fitness | |
Yousuf | Learning to play the piano. Take classes. Vancouver, BC (Canada) | new skill | |
Randy | Going on long bike rides in the Frases Valley and Vancouver Island. Burnaby, BC (Canada) | health & fitness | |
Kelly | Walk 10,000+ steps every day. Canada | health & fitness | |
Jacqueline | Finishing my bachelors of education degree and proving my school that people with epilepsy can be teachers. Nanaimo, BC (Canada) | education | |
Sonia | Going to the gym 4x a week. Vancouver, BC (Canada) | health & fitness | |
Derek | Helping others find what is good about them. Mission, BC (Canada) | support | |
Heather | Supporting my partner as he rehabs / recovers from a cycling accident. Canada | support | |
Farooq | Add 1000 arcane words to my vocabulary. Vancouver, BC (Canada) | new skill | |
Monica | Helping people. Somehow in 2017 I was hit by a car. Seizures were worse before now seizures less, no job but can help do things more now. Burnaby, BC (Canada) | support | |
Carlos | Doing things more – helping. Burnaby, BC (Canada) | support | |
Megan | Continue school and go to college, graduate, and play field hockey again. Victoria, BC (Canada) | education | |
Isabel | Educate and support my child with epilepsy. Educate business owners, CEOs, anyone willing to listen about epilepsy and that people with the condition are capable of achieving anything they put their minds into. Vancouver, BC (Canada) | awareness | |
Marines | Enjoy life to its fullest! Providence, RI (United States) | positive attitude | |
Manuel | Slowly cure my epilepsy for good by following healthy measures. Dedham, MA (United States) | health & fitness | |
Bruce | Learning to sail. Rhode Island (United States) | new skill | |
Bill | Promoting seizure safe schools. Newport, RI (United States) | advocacy | |
Brian | Following Phil! Maumee, Ohio (United States) | support | |
Edward | I was diagnosed Epileptic at 6 years old had post Epileptic traumatisim I have been living a normal life for 24 years now on medication. Cambridgeshire (United Kingdom) | health & fitness | |
Julia | Finding help and support to believe in myself and say I can instead of I can’t. Edingale Tamworth, Staffordshire (United Kingdom) | health & fitness | |
Jane | Having epilepsy has not stopped me doing anything always been very sporty despite having active and fluctuating epilepsy which is now controlled. My next step is for my voice and be heard about the injustice I faced in employment and be a voice for others who don’t have a voice. Southport (United Kingdom) | advocacy, awareness | |
Amy | Getting more families involved in sports and recreation (those living with epilepsy)! Conway, NH (United States) | support | |
Lisa | Spreading awareness about epilepsy and committing to have my staff epilepsy first aid certified. Londonderry, NH (United States) | awareness, new skill | |
Baxter | More music – like learning the guitar More adventures – like sailing and water skiing More food – different exciting flavors Western MA (United States) | new skill | |
Jeff | Find a career that I enjoy and be successful in. Regain my independence. Sanford, ME (United States) | new skill | |
Amy | Repel off a building to raise money for epilepsy foundation. Tyngsboro, MA (United States) | support | |
Tyler | Working hard to keep my room a little neater. York, ME (United States) | new skill | |
Anja | Remembering my medications and be really aware of the food I’m putting in my body maybe try a ketosis diet I’ve heard promising things in its affect with epilepsy. Coquitlam, BC (Canada) | health & fitness | |
Em-Rose | Conquering my anxiety and focusing on self care, and also continuing to support Jeff with his battle with epilepsy. Sanford, ME (United States) | health & fitness, support | |
Nicole | Continuing to teach everyone I know about this illness/disease. Littlestown, PA (United States) | awareness | |
Donna | Stop isolating myself so much because of my seizures. And get out and become active again. Plant City, Florida (United States) | health & fitness | |
Joseph | Learn about sailing. London, Ontario (Canada) | education | |
Megan | Spreading epilepsy awareness every chance I get. Hull, Massachusetts (United States) | awareness | |
Eryn | Aiming to get my dinghy instructor to help other children learn to sail. Bexley Kent (United Kingdom) | new skill | |
Celine-Eva | Keep breathing despite being really scared about my epilepsy. Freshwater NSW (Australia) | positive attitude | |
Laura | Educate my patients. St. Cloud, Florida (United States) | education | |
Lynn | I want to be a speaker in a large groups such as Expos and Conferences about Epilepsy Awareness, and Epilepsy and Suicide, as I am the survivor of a suicide attempt due to my Epilepsy and depression. I want people to know it’s okay to not be okay, and to let others know they need help. Ball Ground, Georgia (United States) | awareness, positive attitude, support | |
Taryn | Remember. Davenport, FL (United States) | memoriam | |
Cassidy | Go for more hikes / walks. Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) | health & fitness, walk / run | |
Malea | Horseback riding off the lead. Saint Cloud, FL (United States) | adventure | |
Holly | Travel in an RV across the U.S. Monson, MA / Port Orange, FL (United States) | adventure | |
Angela | Not overdoing and keeping rested. Apopka, FL (United States) | health & fitness | |
Jenn | Doing yoga and guided meditations at least 3 times per week and stay on my diet, Optavia. Mandeville, Louisiana (United States) | health & fitness | |
Karla | Continue to take my medicine and keep it in my mind that this can happen at anytime with no notice. Willimantic, Connecticut (United States) | health & fitness | |
Carol | Sailing each week that weather permits and timing off work. My daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy a little over a year ago. (United States) | ||
Sue | Sharing my lifetime experience with Epilepsy and encouraging others. Berlin, Massachusetts (United States) | awareness | |
Newman | Sharing my story. Pottstown, PA (United States) | awareness | |
Alina | Helping those that need it but first to help myself. Reno, Nevada (United States) | support | |
Renata | Take a boat trip one day. And learn how to sail. Lisbon (Portugal) | adventure, new skill | |
Pedro | To support my 16y son Afonso in his challenge to live with epilepsy. Cichoeiras (Portugal) | support | |
Isa | Demystifying epilepsy. Portugal | awareness | |
Gabrial | Study to be a scientist. Lisbon (Portugal) | education | |
Grisham | I want everyone to understand epilepsy and for my brother not to have any more seizures. Portugal | awareness | |
Teresa | To become a neuro-pediatrician. Almada (Portugal) | education | |
Luisa | Accept my condition and that of my partner. Find a way to work through the motor difficulties of everyday life. Almada (Portugal) | positive attitude | |
Nuno | Talking to more people about epilepsy. Portugal | awareness | |
Maria | Learning to play basketball. Portugal | health & fitness, new skill | |
Rute | Helping my daughter to be proud of herself and to continue to believe that anything is possible. Portugal | support | |
Aurora | I hope my brother doesn’t have any more seizures. Sines (Portugal) | support | |
Tânia | Talking more about epilepsy with everyone! Sines (Portugal) | awareness | |
Jorge and Mileida | To our daughter: “You can do it! Go!” We are here for you. Almada (Portugal) | support | |
Huga | Getting a driver’s license and taking Henrique to the stadium. Amora (Portugal) | new skill | |
Elsa | Doing yoga to be more resilient. Amora (Portugal) | health & fitness | |
Henrique | Learning to swim. Amora (Portugal) | health & fitness, new skill | |
Pedro | Slimming the belly. Aroeira (Portugal) | health & fitness | |
Maria | Continuing epilepsy awareness for my patients and the community. Help them take one more step. Almada (Portugal) | awareness | |
Margarida | Organizing an awareness session on Epilepsy at my nephew Samuel’s school later this year. Setúbal, Portugal | awareness | |
Samuel | Having a party and swimming with the dolphins. Portugal | adventure | |
Dina | Finding a weekly time for exercise. Aveiro (Portugal) | health & fitness | |
Wojtaszek | Better healing. Lisbon (Portugal) | health & fitness | |
Alix | Travel around the world see other cultures and learn about them. Agueda (Portugal) | adventure | |
Puolo | Helping my son to learn how to swim. Amora (Portugal) | new skill, support | |
Bitocas | Make more travels with creativity. Agueda (Portugal) | adventure | |
Ana | Educate people about epilepsy. Lisbon (Portugal) | education | |
Pedro | Learn to ride a bicycle. Lisbon (Portugal) | new skill | |
Francisco | Be able to drive a car. Lisbon (Portugal) | new skill | |
Carla | Helping epilepsy patients. Portugal | support | |
Afonso | Eventually be a doctor when I get older so I can get to know more about epilepsy and help the people with it. Lisbon (Portugal) | education | |
Miguel | Keep opening my kids minds to such important initiatives as Sail 4 Epilepsy. Lisbon (Portugal) | education | |
Joana | Doing my best to enroll in medical school. Then I can be an investigator in the neuroscience (or psychiatry) field. Lisbon (Portugal) | education | |
Francisco | Keep on pursuing my dreams & never giving up. I’ll do my best to fulfill my dream of being able to speak the most languages possible. Lisbon (Portugal) | new skill | |
Filipa | To share my knowledge and daily experiences that are related to epilepsy. To allow my children to have new experiences. Portugal | awareness | |
Jorge | I will practice more soccer. Portugal | health & fitness | |
Mariana | I will start dancing again. Portugal | health & fitness | |
Salomé | I wish my brother didn’t have epilepsy anymore. Sines (Portugal) | support | |
Daniel | I will help my girlfriend who has epilepsy to finish the course she is taking. Aveiro (Portugal) | education | |
Maria | By supporting / encouraging people with epilepsy. Marrakech (Morocco) | support | |
Soumia | Helping people in need. Marrakech (Morocco) | support | |
Fatima | To spread awareness and educate people I know. Marrakech (Morocco) | awareness | |
Aicha | Talking / sharing about the charity through social media. Marrakech (Morocco) | awareness | |
Imad | For people with epilepsy. Marrakech (Morocco) | support | |
Chama | Diet and nutrition. Marrakech (Morocco) | health & fitness | |
Abderrazzak | Going on a long trip by boat in order to help people with epilepsy. Marrakech (Morocco) | awareness | |
Malak | I would like to help people as much as I can. Marrakech (Morocco) | support | |
Lamya | Help patients struggling with chronic diseases. Marrakech (Morocco) | support | |
Iourdane | Open a center for cooperation with people in need of medical help. Marrakech (Morocco) | support | |
Radia | I would like to be more outgoing. Marrakech (Morocco) | health & fitness | |
Nacertazi | I would like to work out more and be in my best shape ever. Marrakech (Morocco) | health & fitness | |
Chaimaa | Learn surfing and manage my stress. Marrakech (Morocco) | new skill | |
Maarouf | I wish for all epileptic people to be happy, fearless, and find the support they need! Marrakech (Morocco) | support | |
Katelyn | Building a successful career. Castro Valley, CA (United States) | career | |
Julie | In memory of my brother Danny Tromberg who lost his life to epilepsy-related complications at the young age of 45. He was a warrior who didn’t want to let epilepsy define him. All he wanted was a cure. Princeton, NJ (United States) |