Epilepsy Society

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is not just one condition,
but a group of many different 'epilepsies'
with one thing in common: a tendency to
have seizures that start in the brain.

Epilepsy is usually only diagnosed after a person has had more than one seizure. Not all seizures are due to epilepsy. Other conditions that can look like epilepsy include fainting, or very low blood sugar in some people being treated for diabetes. On this page, when we use the term 'seizure' we mean epileptic seizure.

Anyone can develop epilepsy, at any time of life. It happens in people of all ages, races and social classes. Epilepsy is most commonly diagnosed in children and in people over 65. There are over half a million people with epilepsy in the UK, so around 1 in 100 people.

www.epilepsysociety.org.uk

50 Million

people have epilepsy world wide

It is estimated that 1 in 100
people have epilepsy

In 50% of cases the cause is unknown

Purple Beginnings

Cassidy Megan with mom, Angela Cassidy Megan created the idea of Purple Day in 2008, motivated by her own struggles with epilepsy. Cassidy's goal is to get people talking about epilepsy in an effort to dispel myths and inform those with seizures that they are not alone. The Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia came on board in 2008 to help develop Cassidy's idea which is now known as the Purple Day for epilepsy campaign.

Photo: Lisa Marie Noseworthy

Cassidy Megan with mum, Angela

What is Purple Day?

Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. On March 26th annually, people in countries around the world are invited to wear purple and host events in support of epilepsy awareness. Last year, people in dozens of countries on all continents including Antarctica participated in Purple Day!

Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia and The Anita Kaufmann Foundation

In 2009, the New York-based Anita Kaufmann Foundation and Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia joined forces to launch Purple Day internationally. As the global sponsors of Purple Day, both organizations are committed to partnering with individuals and organizations around the world to promote epilepsy awareness.

The combined efforts of AKF and EANS have lead to the involvement of numerous organizations, schools, businesses, politicians and celebrities around the word.

Purple Day - March 26

www.purpleday.org

"I wanted people around the world to come together and teach others about epilepsy "

Cassidy Megan, Founder of Purple Day

So on the 26th March this week lets show our awareness regarding epilepsy and make a little girls dream come true by us all wearing an item of purple to spread the word so peolpe are more aware of a condition that affects over 50,000,000 people worldwide.

Epilepsy society, . 2019. Epilepsy Society. [Online]. [23 March 2019]. Available from: www.epilepsysociety.org.uk

Purpledayorg. 2019. Purpledayorg. [Online]. [23 March 2019]. Available from: http://www.purpleday.org/

PURPLE DAY FOR EPILEPSY