Americans to join in Purple Day campaign to support epilepsy awareness

Mar 22 2010

Members of the U.S. House and Senate, children in schools across the country, and employees of workplaces nationwide will wear purple to support epilepsy awareness on March 26. Thousands of Americans will also join the campaign by hosting Purple Day activities in their regions.

Purple Day was founded in 2008, by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan. Motivated by her own struggles with epilepsy, Cassidy created the day to tell other kids about the disorder and inform those with seizures that they are not alone. She named the day after the internationally recognized color for epilepsy, lavender.

"Purple Day tells the world that people with epilepsy are just like everybody else," says Cassidy Megan.

Epilepsy affects 3 million people in the United States and over 50 million people worldwide.  More people than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease combined. Despite its prevalence, epilepsy is not well understood and many still face social stigma and discrimination due to a lack of awareness about the disorder.

"Purple Day reminds Americans that people with epilepsy deserve understanding and acceptance," says Debra Josephs, Executive Director of The Anita Kaufmann Foundation. "When the public is given information about seizure types and seizure first aid training, their fear subsides and gives way to understanding."