Leo’s Angels, the memorial fund dedicated to harnessing technology to transform epilepsy care and save lives, is launching a national movement to raise vital awareness and funds for the cause.

Award-winning technology entrepreneur Emma O’Brien has spent more than twenty years helping organisations transform complex systems. Following the death of her eleven-year-old son Leo from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) in 2023, she is now applying that expertise to one of the UK’s most pressing challenges in children’s neurological care.

Leo’s Angels is a rapidly growing health innovation movement bringing together families, clinicians, researchers, business leaders and technology specialists with one shared ambition: to transform the future of epilepsy care through research, collaboration and digital innovation. In its first year the charity has raised almost £100,000 through community fundraising initiatives.

As part of this mission, on Saturday 19 September 2026 supporters from across the UK will gather at Epsom Racecourse for the inaugural Leo’s Angels Black Tie Fundraising Gala, bringing together leaders from business, healthcare and the wider community to help accelerate the organisation’s next chapter.

Hosted by BBC Antiques Road Trip presenter Natasha Raskin Sharp, the evening will feature a drinks reception, three-course dinner, immersive virtual horse racing, live charity auction, raffle and live entertainment from internationally acclaimed vocal duo Candy Apple Blue, whose musicians have performed alongside some of the world’s biggest recording artists.

The Gala will mark a significant milestone for Leo’s Angels with the launch of its first national research collaboration, bringing together Young Epilepsy, the Epilepsy Research Institute UK and the University of Exeter’s PenTAG Health Technology Assessment team to examine one of the biggest hidden challenges facing epilepsy care: fragmented health data.

The research aims to generate evidence that can support the NHS and healthcare partners in developing more connected, digitally enabled approaches to epilepsy care—helping clinicians access better information, empowering families and informing future policy and service design.

Leo’s Angels has also strengthened its growing Advisory Board through the appointment of consultant paediatric neurologist Dr Colin Dunkley, bringing further clinical expertise to an organisation that already combines lived experience, digital transformation, academic research and healthcare collaboration in a way that is rarely seen within the sector. 

Emma said:

“Leo’s Angels isn’t simply about raising money. It’s about bringing together people who would never normally sit around the same table – families, clinicians, researchers, technologists, business leaders and policymakers – to ask one important question: how can we work together to build a better future for children living with epilepsy?”

“Our role is to bring together lived experience, research, innovation and technology to help support clinicians, strengthen connected care and contribute to better outcomes for children and families. If Leo’s legacy inspires others to believe that better is possible, then together we can build a future where every child with epilepsy has access to safer, more connected care”

Today, around 100,000 children and young people across the UK are living with epilepsy. Around one-third experience drug-resistant epilepsy, placing them at significantly greater risk of serious complications, including SUDEP.

To purchase a ticket to the Gala, please visit this link.

For more information visit: www.leos-angels.com