With a common goal of living seizure free for those suffering from epilepsy, about 2,000 people descended upon TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa for an annual walk to support the Epilepsy Support Network of Orange County.

At the Seizure Wars ninth annual Epilepsy Walk Orange County, kids were walking alongside Star Wars characters, police officers participating and patrolling on horses and there were more bells and whistles than any of the Costa Mesa fire trucks on hand could sound off.

The ongoing fight for those with epilepsy is to get their seizures under control with medication and education, which is where the Costa Mesa-based nonprofit comes in with its 26 programs. As I was volunteering at the April 21 event, a gentleman came up to me and said early in the morning during registration, “I have epilepsy, I like Star Wars and I don’t know where to turn.” I introduced him to ESNOC Executive Director Janna Moore and went about my duties at the registration table.

Also inspiring was Anastacia Bean, the first registrant for the third year in a row. She wore a small badge saying she was there to walk for her mom, Sharyl, who greatly benefited from ESNOC’s services before she died on May 6, 2010.

Bean, an Anaheim Convention Center employee who regularly works weekends, said there are three days on the calendar each year in which she requests the day off – Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the Epilepsy Walk.

When asked why she wants to be the first registrant, Bean, 31, smiled and said she’s been first in the line because “I just want to make sure my name got on (the registration list). My mom had epilepsy before she passed in 2010, and we went to these walks together. Epilepsy Support Network was a huge help to her, so I am not only paying them back, but helping them to move forward for future generations.”

This year was Bean’s seventh straight walk. She takes two buses to get home in Anaheim.

Amid the plethora of raffle prizes, silent auction items, contests and games, in which kids hit inflatable baseballs, threw footballs, shot basketballs and kicked soccer balls through holes for prizes, each of the participants had a special story.

Some of the teams at the walk had more than 20 people participating for an individual as a fundraiser for the nonprofit. It is the largest fundraiser each year for the Epilepsy Support Network and raised about $145,000 this year.

As part of Team Tarvin, in honor of their friend David Tarvin, Andrew Garcia of Long Beach and his family enjoyed a warm, wonderful day. Their daughter, Aria, met her mermaid match, posing for a picture with Long Beach State senior Samantha Salmon, who owns and operates “The Treasure Cover Mermaid,” geared for girls’ birthday parties. Salmon, a Cypress High graduate, is also a lifeguard and former competitive swimmer and water polo player.

The poignant scene with Aria Garcia symbolized the day’s discovery of connections for all.