Anna Roseblade Shore and Felix Shore, the husband-and-wife duo (pictured) behind the acclaimed 209 Restaurant in Farndon, are taking a stand to raise awareness and funds for Epilepsy Action.
With head chef Felix’s personal epilepsy journey as a foundation, the couple hopes to shed light on the challenges of living with the condition, which is often misunderstood and underestimated.
Epilepsy affects over 600,000 people in the UK, yet public understanding remains limited—many associate epilepsy with flashing lights and fainting without realising its unpredictability and potentially fatal nature.
For Felix Shore, epilepsy has been a life-altering condition. He refers to his tonic-clonic seizures as “running a marathon” due to the immense physical toll they take on his body.
“Felix’s seizures use the same amount of energy and muscle strength as running a marathon,” Anna explained. “He’s now over two years free from seizures, thanks to finding the right dose of medication, but the journey has been anything but easy.”
During the last particularly harrowing episode, Anna explained how Felix suffered five tonic-clonic in one day – two frighteningly in the passenger seat of the car they were driving, then in their home in the bathroom where he sustained injuries. For Felix, the tonic-clonic lasts around a minute followed by 30 minutes of sleep then complete memory loss and disorientation.
“It’s not until around an hour and a half after, just that 1 minute of running a marathon, does Felix remember what happened. And then he’s out for 24 hours, sleeping and drinking sugary tea,” Anna recalls.
“It’s not just Felix who endures the marathon. As his partner, I’ve faced fear, helplessness, and exhaustion watching him go through it. We’re sharing our story to raise awareness and funds so others can benefit from improved research, treatment, and support,” she added.
To honour Felix’s journey and contribute to the cause, Anna is running the London Marathon in April 2025. “I want to experience even a fraction of the stress and strain Felix feels during a seizure. If we can raise money to help others avoid these experiences, it’s all worth it.”
The funds raised will go to Epilepsy Action, a charity dedicated to supporting people living with epilepsy, raising awareness, and funding critical research into treatments and potential cures.
Anna and Felix are calling on the community to support their efforts. Donations can be made through their fundraising page, and Anna invites anyone interested to join her training runs or organise their own events to contribute.
“Every pound makes a difference,” Anna said. “Whether it’s funding research for better treatments or supporting families going through the challenges of epilepsy, your help matters.”
Anna and Felix are the proud owners of 209 Restaurant, on High Street, in Farndon, where they’ve created a warm, welcoming space for the local community. Through their work and personal journey, they’ve become advocates for understanding and compassion, especially for those living with invisible illnesses like epilepsy.
To donate go to: https://2025tcslondonmarathon.
