The Blue Wave always draws quite a crowd for home football games, but on Sunday, the Darien community will come together at the high school stadium to support a different kind of teamwork. Seniors Ryan and Chris Thurlow, 18, have organized an awareness walk and fundraiser to help a pair of classmates—a fellow set of twins.

Jeremy and Miles Clark, 17, were diagnosed with Dravet syndrome at 6 months old. It’s a rare, severe form of epilepsy that’s medication resistant and causes developmental delays. The Clark brothers met the Thurlow brothers in kindergarten at Royle Elementary School.

“We were initially drawn together because we were both new sets of twins in a school for the first time,” explained Ryan Thurlow.

But their bond quickly developed into more.

“I was in Jeremy’s class, and I saw past all the challenges that he lived with in his life, and I just immediately wanted to be friends with him,” Chris Thurlow told News 12.

“We could tell that they were super genuine and happy kids. They were always positive to be around. Every time we were around them, we were becoming better people ourselves,” Ryan Thurlow added.

In elementary school, the Thurlow boys and their family hosted a fundraiser to help the Clarks get a service dog to detect seizures ahead of time. Golden retriever Valerie is still an important member of the family nine years later.

“It's just so nice to see other kids have compassion and really take an interest in my kids because, you know, often they get weird looks,” mom Lindsey Clark told News 12.

“They always have my back,” Jeremy Clark said. “It makes me feel really ecstatic!”

“It's something really special and meaningful to both of us in our lives since we've been with them,” Chris Thurlow explained.

This year is the first time all four boys are back together in the same school since Royce Elementary. So, Ryan and Chris Thurlow decided to hold an event to educate the school community about Dravet Syndrome and raise much-needed funds for research. There’s no cure and current treatment options are limited, so the work done by the Dravet Syndrome Foundation is critical.

When Lindsey Clark learned about the effort, “My jaw dropped. I was thrilled,” she recalled.

But the walk is about more than just money. It's about friends stepping up for friends.

“With us being seniors, we're graduating, but Jeremy and Miles are not seniors. So, with friends like us leaving the school, we want to make sure we leave them with a whole bunch of new friends and new people that can really embrace them like we did,” explained Chris Thurlow.

The Dravet Syndrome Walk begins at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, at Darien High School Stadium with a small ceremony. Earlier in the day, Blue Wave Football will host a carwash at the high school from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. with a portion of proceeds going to the Dravet Syndrome Foundation.

To learn more about the event or make a donation, click here.