The Race
Reason for the Race: Losing Mathias has sparked in us a passion to help families that struggle with the difficulties of epilepsy and in doing so continue Mathias’ Legacy- to Race for an Answer. We are blessed to have community support to raise funds to further pivotal pediatric epilepsy research. The race will also provide awareness about epilepsy and those whose lives have been forever altered by this disease.
2021 Chunky Monkey Recap
Welcome to Race Day:
And They are Off!
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Thank you to our 2021 Sponsors, Volunteers, and Participants who made our 9th Chunky Monkey Epilepsy Run a Success. We are truly blessed to have your support and look forward to another fabulous year in 2022! |
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211 Finishers (Half, 5K, and virtual) & 55 Finishers (Kid’s Fun Run) $10,000 Raised for Pediatric Epilepsy Research Due to Covid we were not able to donate blankets, but hopefully soon! We have quite the collection for the American Family Children’s Hospital |
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The Koch Family is honored to carry on Mathias’ legacy through acts of caring and spreading awareness and raising funds for epilepsy. 2020 was an exceptionally challenging year with a pandemic fear and anxiety, sickness, loss, and stress abounded. It was with much consideration that we decided to move forward with our 8th Chunky Monkey. Every precaution was taken to prepare for a safe and fun event.
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Special Theme: Legacy
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5K Chunky Monkey Epilepsy Run
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The race was a success!! It was a true blessing to see the number of runners and walkers that joined us for our 9th Chunky Monkey Epilepsy Run. The week leading up to the run was beautiful and warm. The day of the event…HOT! We made course changes to allow for runners to have wave starts! 3 different times and a limit of 50 participants per wave. Yes, our numbers were down, but we were pleasantly surprised that despite the pandemic, the 5K brought in 106 finishers! Our post race activities were cancelled so that we could limit group gatherings.
Race Results: Click Here
Chunky Monkey Kids Fun Run
This year we had 55 children ages 6 months to 10 years old participate in the Chunky Monkey Fun Run. We had a Diaper Dash, 100 Meter Dash, and 400 Meter dash so children of all ages could participate.
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Dr. Ikonomidou and the Pediatric Neurology Team invited us to American Family Children’s Hospital to learn how the team of researchers would like to use the money donated from Team Mathias and the Chunky Monkey Epilepsy Run. With sincere gratitude to Team Mathias and all who participated in the Chunky Monkey Dr. Ikonomidou and Dr. Stafstrom each accepted a check to further pediatric epilepsy awareness and research totaling $10,000 . Since our inception in 2012 The Chunky Monkey, with your help, has raised $89,800!
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Our local communities came together to provide 207 Fleece Tie Blankets for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for the Children’s Hospital in 2016. Since 2012, it has been a true honor and blessing to deliver comfort to 801 families by providing these precious blankets!! Thank you for the compassion you have shown!
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Mathias’ Story: The Chunky Monkey Epilepsy Run is in honor of Mathias Lee Koch, Dan and Mandy’s little “chunky monkey”. This very special boy was born perfectly healthy, but at 5 months a seizure took hold of his little body and where his first seizure stopped, epilepsy took over. For two months he fought his seizures like a young warrior, but due to complications with epilepsy he lost his battle in November of 2010.
