Suddenly Sleepy

The Suddenly Sleepy 5K Sleepwalk was founded in 2018 by “Chef Andre Royal” to raise funds to help those affected by Narcolepsy and various sleep disorders. In 2019 “Suddenly Sleepy” became an Oregon Nonprofit 501 (c)(3) that now provides fun and engaging ways to support educational opportunities and continues to raise awareness of the importance of quality sleep. Lack of quality sleep is becoming much more recognized as it affects not just those who’ve been diagnosed with sleep disorders such as Narcolepsy- but is important to the overall health and wellness of the community as a whole. Narcolepsy affects 1 in every 2000 Americans and 3 Million people worldwide. The typical onset of Narcolepsy is between the ages of 10 and 20 years old but can occur in early childhood. It is estimated that up to 50% of patients with Narcolepsy may be undiagnosed. On average it can take 10 years or more before receiving a Narcolepsy diagnosis. On average, patients have 6 physician visits before receiving a Narcolepsy diagnosis. Narcolepsy can affect academic and professional performance and makes interpersonal relationships more challenging. There is not yet a cure. “Quality sleep is a quality of life issue”.

Andre Royal
Sleep Awareness