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Purple Day raises awareness of epilepsy

Today is Purple Day, a day dedicated around the world to raising awareness of epilepsy.
Alistair Taylor
Alistair Taylor
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Urging everyone to wear purple on Purple Day, a day designated for raising awareness about epilepsy, is Campbell River’s Hannah Taylor, a person living with epilepsy, and her brother Robbie.

Today is Purple Day, a day dedicated around the world to raising awareness of epilepsy.

On Purple Day, everyone is encouraged to wear purple and in Campbell River, Hannah Taylor is urging everyone in this community to show support.

Cassidy Megan created the idea of Purple Day in 2008, motivated by her own struggles with epilepsy. Megan’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 Megan’s idea which is now known as the Purple Day for epilepsy campaign.

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.

Epilepsy Quick Facts:

  • There are approximately 50 million people around the world living with epilepsy.
  • It’s estimated that 1 in 100 people have epilepsy
  • There are more than 300,000 Canadians living with epilepsy.
  • There are approximately 2.2 million Americans living with epilepsy.
  • Epilepsy is NOT contagious. Epilepsy is NOT a disease. Epilepsy is NOT a psychological disorder.
  • There is currently no “cure” for epilepsy. However, for 10-15% of people with epilepsy, the surgical removal of the seizure focus – the part of brain where the person’s seizures start – can eliminate all seizure activity. For more than half of people with epilepsy, medication will control their seizures. Additionally, some children will outgrow their epilepsy and some adults may have a spontaneous remission.
  • Not everyone can identify specific events or circumstances that affect seizures, but some are able to recognize definite seizure triggers. Some common triggers include:
  1. Forgetting to take prescribed seizure medication
  2. Lack of sleep
  3. Missing meals
  4. Stress, excitement, emotional upset
  5. Menstrual cycle / hormonal changes
  6. Illness or fever
  7. Low seizure medication levels
  8. Medications other than prescribed seizure medication
  9. Flickering lights of computers, television, videos, etc., and sometimes even bright sunlight
  10. Street drugs

For more information visit PurpleDay.org