250,000 Shades of Purple

This March, Epilepsy Action Australia, the largest provider of services for people living with epilepsy in Australia, is advocating for greater recognition for epilepsy as a spectrum disorder, meaning that the 250,000 Australians living with epilepsy experience the condition differently. While epilepsy is more common than Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy combined, it is widely misunderstood.

Purple Day on March 26 is a global initiative dedicated to raising epilepsy awareness. Every year Epilepsy Action Australia works to bring the condition out of the shadows and increase awareness of the impact that this condition can have on individuals and families.

“Throughout history, epilepsy has been a misunderstood condition and misperceptions, fears and stigma still exist within parts of our community today. That is why we are using the symbolism of 250,000 shades of purple this Purple Day to highlight that living with epilepsy is different for each of the 250,000 Australians diagnosed with the condition,” says Carol Ireland, CEO of Epilepsy Action Australia.

“In recognition of this global initiative, for the first time ever, the Sydney Opera House will light up purple for Epilepsy Action Australia on the evening of Purple Day on March 26.”

This Purple Day, Epilepsy Action Australia aims to raise $250K - one dollar for every person diagnosed with epilepsy in Australia - to go towards creating a range of cutting edge technology solutions and e-Resources.