Renee Crang hosts Day for Tayla for epilepsy awareness

A Gympie mum left shattered by her daughter’s unexpected death at age 21, is keeping her memory alive through one of the young woman’s own passions.

Tayla Crang devastating death while feeding her beloved horse only three weeks after her 21st birthday has become the driving force behind a new charity event.

Tayla died only three weeks after turning 21 years old from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy on November 29, 2020.

SUDEP refers to deaths among people with epilepsy not from drowning, injury, or other known causes.

Tayla had been seeing neurologists after her first epileptic seizure but was not officially diagnosed when tragedy struck.

Tayla’s shattered mother Renee Crang said she was “always a healthy, happy kid” who never had to see the doctor.

The family did not even consider the possibility of her death, unaware it could be caused by her condition.

Tayla Crang was not officially diagnosed with epilepsy before she died at age 21.

Ms Crang said Tayla was someone who loved being out with her mates and riding her horse, living life to the fullest.

Devastated by the loss of her “fun, loving girl”, Ms Crang has launched a horse event to raise awareness about the condition and keep Tayla’s name in the community.

Tayla Crang died in 2020 while feeding her horse. Pic: supplied.

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“Tayla always gave back to her horse community and many locals would know her from spending her first years out of school training endurance horses for Brookleigh Stables,” Ms Crang said.

“She then worked at Sandale Saddlery where she was always greeting you with a happy face.”

The community is invited to wear purple in honour of Tayla’s favourite colour and the international colour for epilepsy awareness.

The first Day for Tayla was launched in November 2021 with the help of the Gympie Horse and Rodeo Association and many generous sponsors, an Epilepsy Queensland press release said.

Ms Crang raised more than $6000 for Epilepsy Queensland at the event where community members rode, competed, and raced their horses.

The event will have six different age groups. Photo: Perri Chaplin

Ms Crang is determined to make this year’s Day for Tayla bigger and better.

“In association with Epilepsy Queensland and Gunalda and District Campdraft Association, we will again be running this excellent charity horse event in 2022,” she said.

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The event will be held in Gunalda on December 18, marking two years since Tayla was laid to rest.

Tayla Crang celebrated her 21st birthday only three weeks before her death.

Ms Crang wanted to remember Tayla with a fun event, something her daughter would have enjoyed with her family.

Alongside the event Ms Crang has a Tayla Equestrian apparel line in the works to raise more donations for charity.

The business will launch at this year’s event with t-shirts and hoodies available.

“I hope that my story can help someone else through the heartache and pain that SUDEP causes,” Ms Crange said.

“We would like to remember and honour Tayla with this epic charity event each year, but most importantly we would like to raise awareness for Epilepsy Queensland so they can provide information, training, and support to people living with epilepsy, as well as family members and supporters.”