From Kent to North Devon – Leo’s Angels Founder gears up for 260-mile charity bike ride to raise funds for improved epilepsy care

Leo’s Angels, the memorial fund dedicated to harnessing technology to transform epilepsy care and save lives, is gearing up for a 260-mile charity bike ride this September to raise vital funds to help improve patient outcomes.

Founded in memory of Leo Alan O’Brien who tragically died in 2023 from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), Leo’s Angels is dedicated to driving technological innovation in epilepsy care. The initiative was founded by Leo’s mum, Emma O’Brien, CEO of people-first digital transformation specialist, Embridge Consulting.

Leo’s dad, Ben, is preparing to cycle 260 miles from Kent, where the family live, to Woolacombe in North Devon. Joined by a number of close friends, Ben and the team of 9 cyclists will set off on 17^th September and are aiming to reach their destination at Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park – Leo’s favourite place – on 20^th September 2025.

With a fundraising target of £2,500, the group is being sponsored by Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park,  Serious Waste Management Ltd and GreaseTech to raise as much money as possible.

Having navigated fragmented healthcare systems when caring for Leo, Emma and Ben are dedicated to funding and developing tools that enhance data-driven decision-making for clinicians, empower families with real-time information and updates, and integrate seamlessly within healthcare systems to reduce delays in treatment.

With unrivalled expertise in digital transformation, Emma boasts a strong track record in enabling organisations to overhaul business operations by empowering people, processes and technology, and is calling out for support from organisations globally to sponsor the initiative and accelerate the critical developments that are needed to transform epilepsy care and save lives.

Ahead of the bike ride, Ben said: “As a family we want to channel our grief into purpose, and we know firsthand that the epilepsy community deserves so much more support and access to the right resources. SUDEP cases are going up, not down, and we desperately need to change this.

“This charity bike ride will be one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever taken on, and every penny raised will go towards making a difference to the lives of children like Leo and families like ours. We’re enormously grateful for any donations, no matter how big or how small.”

Emma said: “We have been visiting Woolacombe Sands regularly for the last 13 years, and the team have been a huge support to us since Leo’s death. It was his favourite place in the world so felt like a fitting destination for the bike ride, and there are even plans to install a memorial bench on site.

“We’ve made it our mission to improve future outcomes for those with epilepsy, and to transform the current healthcare system that often involves slow, ill-informed decision-making, delays in accessing effective treatments, and breakdowns in communication. It’s the least we can do in Leo’s memory. The bike ride will be a big challenge for Ben and the team, but it will be worth it.”

For more information and to show your support for Emma, Ben and Leo’s Angels, visit:

www.leos-angel.com

https://www.gofundme.com/f/charity-bike-ride-leos-angels