James Patterson is no ordinary man.

He struggled with epilepsy since the age of 5, and by the time he was 17, experienced an average of 25 seizures a day. Epilepsy is a disease characterized by recurring seizures caused by abnormal brain cells, scar tissue, malformation or other underlying conditions, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Patterson decided the seizures had to stop. He approached his parents and doctors, asking for a life-changing brain surgery to stop his symptoms.

“It was very frustrating and embarrassing. I got teased a lot at school,” Patterson recalled. “One of the most common side effects of epilepsy is depression.”

Fast-forward to the present, and Patterson has lived a nearly symptom-free life since his surgery. He moved to North Carolina in 1996, attended Appalachian State University and came to Washington in 2014.

His passion for epilepsy awareness and helping others with the disease is a lifelong motivation, and that’s why he decided to organize this Saturday’s inaugural Race for Epilepsy Half-Marathon/5K in Washington.

“The idea came to me after I finished the first marathon I ran, and that was in 2004,” Patterson said. “For the next nine years, I pretty much just researched.”

He said he had to learn the ropes of organizing such an event, including finding sponsors and meeting legal requirements. It wasn’t without challenges, but Patterson persevered.

Patterson said there are already more than 160 people signed up for Saturday’s event, and he expects there could be up to 200 after race-day registration.

Participants can choose to register for a half-marathon, 5K or 1-mile fun walk, beginning at the intersection of West Main Street and Stewart Parkway. The entry fee for the marathon is $55 today and $65 on Saturday. The 5K course is $25 today and $35 on Saturday. The fun walk is a flat $5 fee. Race-day registration fees must be paid in cash.

Patterson said he hopes the public will learn that people with epilepsy can hold jobs and function in life, depending on certain variables. Many employers view hiring an epileptic as a potential liability, but there are ways to correct this situation for both parties, he said.

“It’s case by case, and so I’m trying to educate both,” he said.

All proceeds from the race will be donated to CURE Epilepsy, a nonprofit that supports research on the disease.

Patterson said he hopes to turn this into an annual event and add a marathon course in years to come.

“So far, I’m a little bit nervous about little things here and there,” he said of how he’s feeling prior to the big day. “I’m proud because this is one of my lifelong objectives.”

For more information, visit www.raceforepilepsy.org.