The Epilepsy Research Institute was pleased to attend the Windsor Lions Presentation evening on Thursday 16 January 2025 to accept a generous donation towards our work. The Windsor Lions chose to support the Institute in memory of club president Martin Tocher’s niece, Beatrice Matthews-Kilhams, who sadly lost her life to epilepsy in 2019, aged just 18.
The Institute’s Director of Governance, Alison Cooper, joined Martin and fellow members to thank the Lions and learn more about their charitable work. The evening was an inspiring review of the club’s fundraising and community support activities from 2024, including the annual cross country horse ride from which they were able to provide the donation to the Institute.
The Lions Club are a worldwide charitable society devoted to social and international service, with members from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Martin said, “Each year the Lions Club of Windsor members put forward specific charities to receive donations from the monies raised at our fundraising events. This year, the Windsor Lions are proud to be donating money to the Epilepsy Research Institute to support their groundbreaking research that could lead to better treatments, greater understanding, and ultimately, a cure.”
Beatrice had only had four seizures before she tragically passed away. Her family have continued to support research into epilepsy ever since in the hope that other families are spared such a heartbreaking loss.
Beatrice’s mum Alex said, “To know the research we are supporting could be aiding other patients and their families to manage their condition – allowing them to control their lives and not to be defined by epilepsy – is so very important to us. As we approach what would have been Bea’s 24th birthday, I think about what she might be doing now: loving being a wonderful Mummy to Gracie, who is now 6 years old, and maybe using her creative skills through photography. Bea is incredibly missed – the laughter, the smiles, the cuddles. She is with us every moment of every day and I like to think she is watching Gracie grow.
“We are enormously grateful to the Windsor Lions for their support in Bea’s memory. Thank you for helping us to continue to raise awareness and to keep talking about epilepsy.”
The Beatrice Matthews-Kilhams Memorial Fund in aid of the Epilepsy Research Institute now totals £10,826. We are hugely grateful to the Windsor Lions, and all who have generously donated to the fund, for enabling us to continue increasing our understanding of the causes, mechanisms and treatment of epilepsy.