Epilepsy awareness starts with you! Are you wondering what you can do this year to help spread awareness about epilepsy? Epilepsy Awareness Month is all about bringing attention to epilepsy and to help break the stigma about epilepsy myths and misconceptions. We are sharing some ideas to help you find ways to help educate others about epilepsy.
During the month of March, and Purple Day on March 26th, we want you to get creative. Firstly, take some of these ideas and resources, even expand on them or come up with something that is going to work for you. Secondly, send us your pictures or let us know what you’re doing so we can share with our community. Finally, if you need our help in anyway, reach out as soon as possible!
Ways that you can help:
It’s time to start planning your own fundraiser for March. And WE’RE HERE TO HELP! We’ve created an entire webpage for you to get started with fundraising tips and tricks:
- Choose your challenge
- Set up your fundraising page
- Set a goal
- Start fundraising – and amplify your efforts using all the tips on our website
Fundraise. You may choose to sell purple cupcakes, jewelry, artwork, or another purple creation, for example. Since 1 in 100 people have epilepsy, do a fundraiser where you will do 100 of something like walking for 100 minutes, swimming 100 meters, climbing 100 stairs, etc.) Use our NEW fundraising page to find more ways to support your fundraising plan. We have some real-life examples of our community members raising $1000s of dollars by doing these types of activities. Ask us for help or for more information!
Wear purple!
Most importantly, wear purple throughout the month of March, especially on “Purple Day” (March 26th), to show your support.
Encourage Purple Day activities in your child’s classroom on March 26th. However, because Purple Day lands on a Sunday this year, you may choose to do these activities on Friday March 24th. One in one-hundred people across our city have epilepsy, and many more are affected by its impact on loved ones, thousands of students across Durham Region are directly impacted by epilepsy. So, encouraging the school or classroom teacher to bring attention to Purple Day would mean so much to many families.
Bring Purple Day posters to your workplace. Use our posters or make your own Purple Day signs and decorate your windows or office door. Make sure you send us pictures! Wear something purple on Purple Day, and encourage your colleagues to do the same.
Share your story.
Talk about epilepsy with others, or email us with your story. Tell people in your circle about your journey with epilepsy, if you feel comfortable. A great way to end the stigma is to start showing people that epilepsy is not something to be fearful of, and to answer their questions.
Share educational content about epilepsy on your social media accounts. To make it quick and easy, simply follow us and repost/like/share our content.
Shop!
The Epilepsy Shop, brought to you by Epilepsy Ontario, supports your local Epilepsy Organization by entering your local regional code at checkout. When you do, you will receive a 15% discount as a thank you. Epilepsy Durham Region’s code is “002”. Shop Now!
Donate.
When you donate to Epilepsy Durham Region, we can continue our programs and services to support those in our community who are living with epilepsy. We depend on the generous donations from community members just like you. Without your generosity we couldn’t possibly run all the free support programs and services for people living with epilepsy. You can make a difference and donate to Epilepsy Durham Region today. Learn about all the ways to donate here.
Thank you for helping spread awareness about epilepsy and for making our community a more inclusive and safe space for everyone.
What is Purple Day and How it got Started:
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 more than 85 countries on all continents participated in Purple Day! Canada is the only country in the world who officially recognizes March 26th as Purple Day through the Purple Day Act implemented on June 28, 2012.
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 The Maritimes came on board in 2008 to help develop Cassidy’s idea which is now known as Purple Day.
www.purpleday.org