By: centraljersey.com
NEW HOPE – The Princeton Day School girls varsity basketball team is joining with the New Hope-Solebury High School girls varsity basketball team to raise awareness about epilepsy during a game between the two teams on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in the New Hope-Solebury High School gym.
Motivated by her own diagnosis with epilepsy, NH-S’ Tess Frelick and her friend from PDS, Molly Rubin, came up with the idea to have a game between their two teams as a way to let other children and adolescents with epilepsy know they are not alone and to help educate the public about the condition. Molly, a teammate of Tess’ on an AAU basketball team also has friends and family affected by epilepsy.
Ten percent of the American population will experience a single seizure in their lifetime. A person with recurring seizures is said to have epilepsy/seizure disorder. In 70 percent of new cases there is no apparent cause. Many star athletes have epilepsy, including Alan Fanaca, recently of the New York Jets. PDS coach Mika Ryan has coached college-level players, who had been diagnosed with epilepsy. She and Tess will address those in attendance briefly before the game.
Tess, a guard on the NH-S basketball team, who also plays varsity tennis and soccer, was diagnosed with epilepsy during her freshman year. She is doing well since being placed on medication. Epilepsy has not slowed her down, athletically or academically.
Although Tess and Molly might battle on the basketball court on Feb. 5, the girls and their teams are working together to dispel the myths and misunderstandings associated with epilepsy.

