CJ Daniels, LSU wide receiver, is making an impact on and off the football field.
CJ and his mother Natalie Beavers, epilepsy survivor, worked with LSU Athletics, Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana, Angels of Epilepsy, Our Lady of the Lake, and The Neuromedical Center Clinic to create a night of awareness and safety training here in LSU’s Tiger Stadium Lawton room this past Thursday on the 22nd.
“My mom was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was five, so I’ve been the caregiver all my life,” CJ states, “we wanted to bring awareness and support to the epilepsy community.”
Having such a personal connection to the cause, CJ and his mother knew they could make an impact for the better. Beavers created her non profit organization Angles of Epilepsy in 2008. She is proud to call her son the Vice President of AOE.
“I believe having an organization where, as a survivor, a family member can turn to and say I need some resources, some educational information, or I need a support group,” Beavers said, “those who contact Angles of Epilepsy are like family.”
CJ doesn’t just have his family’s support, but his teammates. LSU football worked with CJ to promote this event. To show their support of epilepsy awareness, the team wore purple stickers on their helmets at the Vanderbilt game this past Saturday.
CJ says, “Having a whole team to stand by my side is definitely a blessing. We are going to go out and show our support.”
His whole life, CJ has been using his platform as a football player to advocate in honor of his mother. Now at LSU, every touchdown and purple ribbon worn on a jersey is more awareness for a cause so close to his heart.