PRESS RELEASE: PURPLE MONTH SHINES A LIGHT ON EPILEPSY IN WA

Not-for-profit organisation Epilepsy WA – a charity that supports the one in 25 West Aussies who will be diagnosed with epilepsy – is asking all members of the community to unite to bring awareness for the chronic condition to the fore during March, during the organisation’s ‘Purple Month’.

Epilepsy WA CEO, Emma Buitendag, says anyone can be impacted by the sudden onset of seizures or gain a diagnosis of epilepsy at any age, with figures showing that one in 10 Australians will experience a seizure in their life, whilst 115,000 West Australians will be diagnosed with epilepsy.

“This Purple Month we’re calling for increased public awareness about epilepsy, which contributes to the deaths of over 1000 Australians annually and causes untold suffering,” says Mrs Buitendag.

“We are a charity that relies heavily on public donations to help those we support, and we’re appealing for West Australians to organise their own purple fundraising events or join our Purple Walk 4 Epilepsy on March 30, in a bid to raise funds to help to continue our essential epilepsy services.”

Epilepsy WA facilitates monthly support groups, outreach programs and a helpline and assists more than 1500 newly diagnosed West Australians annually, to assist them in understanding the condition and gain essential coping strategies.

“Tens of thousands of West Aussies rely on our team of Epilepsy WA nurses, our online epilepsy resources and support groups, as well as our epilepsy management and seizure first aid training services, to be able to face the challenges of living with this chronic neurological condition,” Mrs Buitendag adds.

The flagship fundraiser for Purple Month will take place on Sunday, March 30, when hundreds of supporters will dress in purple to participate in the family fun-day event Purple Walk 4 Epilepsy WA at Curtin University.

Registrations can be made for Purple Walk 4 Epilepsy WA at www.purplewalk4epilepsywa.com.au, which is proudly supported by GR Engineering and EEG Lab.

March 26 – International Purple Day for Epilepsy – will also see more than 53 landmarks around WA light up in purple to AGAIN raise awareness for the condition, as part of the Purple Lights 4 Epilepsy WA initiative. Locations include Kings Park, the WACA, Government House, Elizabeth Quay and Parliament House.

In regional cities, purple lights will also shine on ports, bridges and buildings in Rockingham, Mandurah, Bunbury, Albany, Kalgoorlie and Karratha. A full list of venues is available here: www.epilepsywa.asn.au/events.

Media contact/interviews: Emma Buitendag, CEO Epilepsy WA on 0402 628 669 or [email protected]. (Photos are available on request.)