Last year during Epilepsy Awareness Month, I
interviewed Connor Doran. Of course,
Connor didn’t need any introduction because he KNOWS HOWIE MANDEL!!
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| Connor during a Kite Flying Performance |
Well, that’s not exactly why (but it helps). Connor first caught America’s (and the world’s)
attention during Season 5 of America’s Got Talent with his beautiful kite
flying performance. I remember watching the show and seeing Connor for the
first time. His mom was with him as well
and they both talked about his having epilepsy and how he became involved with
kite flying.
Listening to them and watching his first performance brought
tears to my eyes. The performance was
absolutely stunning and they brought awareness of epilepsy in that quick
interview to millions of people.
Connor and his mom, Amy, continue to spread epilepsy
awareness and education through their Dare to Dream team. I am thrilled to be
able to have them participate in the interviews again this year.
The only thing that would make me happier is if they could
introduce me to Howie Mandel (I just want to tell him how much my daughter and
I enjoyed his Bobby’s World
series!). I know that sounds nutty but,
of course, that’s no surprise to faithful readers.
Let’s talk with Connor and Amy:
Robert’s Sister: Tell us the name, mission and goals of your
organization.
My name is Connor Doran and I run the Dare to Dream team. The Dare to Dream team
goes around to different schools all around the country. We educate people
about Epilepsy and raise awareness about bullying and what kids should do if
they get bullied. We also show kids how to fly indoor kites. We do several
demonstrations of indoor kite flying to music. After the demonstration flying
we teach all the kids, teachers and facility staff about flying indoor
kites.
Robert’s Sister: When was your organization founded and what
was the catalyst for forming the organization?
When I was 4 years old I was diagnosed with Epilepsy. All of
my life I have been bullied or made fun of because of my Epilepsy Induced
Anxiety and OCD. Kids and teachers would imitate seizures and stereotype and
other people with Epilepsy. Because of the Anxiety and OCD that I had, kids
would laugh at me and take advantage of my emotions just to make me upset. They
would also cough on me and my food because they knew I had a fear of germs as
well. After being on America’s Got Talent I realized that anyone could achieve
anything as long as they set their mind to it. I also realized that I was not
the only one who was getting bullied at school. That is why I set up this
program to let kids know that they are not the only ones who get bullied and
that there are people that kids can go to. I go into kite flying when I was 14
years old and it took away my Anxiety and it gave me strength to get through my
experiences with bullying. I figured if
that if kite flying helped me then I should share so I could possibly help
other people.
Robert’s Sister: What do you see as the greatest need for
epilepsy awareness or advocacy and how do you help fulfill that need?
From a person living with Epilepsy I think that raising
awareness about Epilepsy is the greatest need. I have been in and out of
hospitals my whole life and the only thing that the doctors could say to me was
try this drug and let’s see if it works. I feel that if we raise awareness
about Epilepsy we will get the public more educated about Epilepsy, we will
teach people about what Epilepsy is and as a result the stereotypes about
Epilepsy will go down and doctors will do more research to find more effective
treatments and a cure for Epilepsy.
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| Connor in Washington, D.C. |
Robert’s Sister: What do you want people to know about
epilepsy and the people you are working to help?
I want people to know that there a millions of people who
live with Epilepsy every day and that most of us are smart, well-educated
people. We do not like the rest of the public stereotyping people who have
Epilepsy as being stupid.
All people need to know seizure first aid and how to
recognize a seizure. That can be
difficult as seizures can appear in different ways. Even repetitive behavior such as opening and
closing a gate over and over can mean a person is having a seizure. People need to be aware that someone may not
be “drunk” or under the influence of drugs, but may simply be having a seizure.
Robert’s Sister: What are some events your organization hosts
in order to raise funds and awareness?
We have done fundraising for local Epilepsy foundations when
we perform at Kite Festivals around North America. We always try to connect and
work with the foundations where we are performing. Inviting them to a festival
to share information and awareness allows them to reach more people.
Robert’s Sister: Tell
us about your successes!
In 2010 I told my mom that I wanted to audition for America’s
Got Talent. She did not believe me. After pressuring her for about a month she
sent in a video of my flying. About a
month later we heard back from the producers of America’s Got Talent saying
that they were impressed and asked us to come to the open auditions in Portland,
Oregon. After flying in front of the producers in Portland I got a call a week
later from the show asking me to come back to Portland and audition in front of
the judges. When I stepped out on that stage I was nervous but I told Howie
Mandel, Sharon Osborne and Piers Morgan why I fly kites because it takes away
my fears about Epilepsy and my experiences with bullying. I also explained how
indoor kite flying helps. I advanced
through four rounds and went to the live Semi-Final round in Los Angeles where
I placed 12th out of 90,000 people.
Since then I have received letters from people all over the world about
their experiences with Epilepsy. I have become an Epilepsy Advocate for the
American Epilepsy Foundation and have traveled across North America performing
and talking about Epilepsy and bullying. In 2011, I spoke at the National Walk
for Epilepsy at the National Mall in Washington D.C. in front of 7,000 people.
Robert’s Sister: How has epilepsy and your organization
affected your life?
Epilepsy has affected all aspects of my life. It has affected my life in different ways as
I get older. When I was little I didn’t really remember having seizures, but I
did remember a lot of medications, and doctors and hospital visits.
When I was 14 and my seizures started again, my social life
as a teenager and my wanting to be an independent teenager sort of clashed. It
made it difficult for me because when other teens were learning to drive, I had
to make the decision not to drive because it would have been dangerous to
others as well to me. To this day, I
still do not drive for that same reason.
It also was depressing to me to watch others learning to
drive and going through the normal teenage milestones. As a young adult, it is a lot harder for me
to be more independent then others, but I am currently taking steps to become
more independent and live with Epilepsy at the same time.
I currently am wearing a Smart Watch Monitor that detects
seizures and sends an alert by text message to my friends and family giving
them my location by GPS. It also automatically dials my phone to one person on
my Smart Monitor list which allows someone to be able to talk to me or for me
if I cannot. It has made a huge
difference in my independence as I can travel and be out on my own. I would like to thank The Chelsea Hutchison
Foundation for sponsoring me to get the Smart Monitor. I was not even aware that there was such a
thing available and because of them it has changed my life. I would also like
to thank the Smart Monitor Company for their help and sponsorship.
For more information on The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation: http://www.chelseahutchisonfoundation.org/
For information on The Smart Monitor: http://www.smart-monitor.com/smartwatch/success-stories/
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| Connor Kite Flying |
Robert’s Sister: Please tell us what your involvement with
your organization means to you. Has this
affected your own personal purpose?
The Dare to Dream Team has worked with many different groups
of people around North America. It is
not limited to people that have Epilepsy.
It is about believing in your potential, and your dreams and how to
reach them. Bullying is often done by
people that do not believe in their potential. By teaching and talking to
people, we not only help the persons that are being bullied, but we also reach
the person that may be feeling like they need to bully in order to feel power
over another. Thus, the program has the
ability to help all that are involved. The kites themselves work as a way of
having the “impossible” become possible right before their eyes. How many
people think a kite can fly indoors? It seems impossible and yet, as they hear
our story, and see it is indeed possible, it helps people realize they should
not give up on things that seem out of reach.
Robert’s Sister: Please tell us how we can contact and support
your organization.
You can always go to our website at http://connordoran.com/ and
find out what we are doing and our current schedule. We love to hear from people as well, and you
can email us directly at connordorankite@gmail.com
Robert’s Sister: Please tell us more about the person (or
persons) answering the questions here.
Connor Doran flew his way to NBC’s America’s Got Talent Top
12 spot on season 5, making him one of the world’s best known kite fliers.
Connor auditioned along with 90,000 people and brought indoor kite flying to
the world. His skill and love of flying qualified him to the Las Vegas rounds,
and he was brought back by Howie Mandel for the Live Wildcard Quarter Finals
show, in Los Angeles California.
Connor’s world wide support gave him a spot in the top 24 for the Semi Final
round. He then remained in Los Angeles and landed in the top 12 of The
America’s Got Talent!
Now attending South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia
Washington, Connor shares his love of kiting with new fliers as well as
learning from the masters who have supported him and helped him in his journey.
He has developed the Dare to Dream Program that has been shared in venues all
over North America inspiring others to believe in themselves, to follow their
dreams, and to speak out against bullying.
The Dare to Dream Program has moved people of all ages to become
empowered and inspired. Connor also works hard to raise Epilepsy Awareness, and
to advocate for epilepsy education. His appearances have including speaking in
Washington D.C., full production performances, and performing the Dare to Dream
program across North America. For more information on upcoming performance
dates and location visit
http://connordoran.com/
or email Connordorankite@gmail.com.
Amy Doran (Connor’s Mom)
With 5 AKA Grand National titles under her wing, Amy’s goal
is to share kiting and the joy it brings with people around the world.
Amy has performed in a wide range of venues which include
full production shows to the opening ceremonies of the Macabbi Olympic Games.
Amy has been privileged to work with Revolution Kites to
create masterpiece series revolutions kites.
All the work she does is her own custom artwork. Her latest Masterpiece
Revolution *SkEyes* was one of the kites featured in Revolution Kites
Masterpiece Challenge.
In 2007 she qualified for the American Kite Association
National Championships in Ocean Shores, Washington. That is where the *Charlie
Chaplin * routine really emerged in the Outdoor Open Individual Ballet. *Charlie* has now won two national
championships. *Charlie* continues to
have fun with crowds all over North America.
Along with her son Connor Doran who made the top 12 on
America’s Got Talent Season 5, Amy helped develop the Dare to Dream Team to
help raise Epilepsy Awareness and money to support research and support for the
National Epilepsy Foundation.
Amy and Connor Doran have spoken to many people about the
Dare to Dream concept to motivate others to believe in themselves and strive to
be everything they can be. Amy and
Connor speak out against bullying and help others gain a voice to speak out for
themselves and others. The Dare to Dream
Program is being presented in venues and schools throughout North America by
Amy and Connor Doran and the Dare to Dream Team.
Thanks very much to Connor and Amy for their time and for
what they are doing for epilepsy awareness and education. They have shown the world it is indeed
possible to have your dreams come true!
Now, about that introduction to Howie Mandel . . .
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