Purple Walk to raise local awareness of epilepsy

Rerewhakaaitu's Adele Pacey is a Purple Day hero.

She's encouraging Rotorua people to wear purple on Monday for Purple Day - the international epilepsy awareness day held in support of 50 million people around the world with epilepsy.

Mrs Pacey is the organiser for the Purple Walk on Monday and is encouraging locals to take part and be creative with prizes for best-dressed. Children are encouraged to make banners.

The walk leaves from opposite the Rotorua District Library on Haupapa St at 3.15pm, taking in city streets. Purple ribbons will be available for a gold coin donation.

Mrs Pacey, whose 3-year-old son Noah has epilepsy, said she wanted to raise awareness and dispel some of the myths.

She said people with epilepsy could lead normal lives but sometimes needed some support.

"Epilepsy should not be a barrier to success. Epilepsy is what people with the condition have; it does not define who they are. Epilepsy is only a small part of their life."

Ngongotaha Primary School is celebrating Purple Day with a mufti day and purple will be the colour of choice at St Chad's Community Centre. Rotorua businesses will also be going purple for the day and selling ribbons in support of the Epilepsy Association.

Rotorua Epilepsy Association co-ordinator Marjo Tenhagen said two per cent of the population suffered from some form of epilepsy.

Her organisation provided information, education, advocacy and supported sufferers and their families.

"Every person's experience is so different and unique. There are lots of different aspects to epilepsy. We make sure people are confident enough to know what to do. It's about understanding the condition," she said.

People with epilepsy could be misunderstood, especially young children who experienced behavioural and learning difficulties, Ms Tenhagen said.

"Education about epilepsy is important. That's half the battle."

Epilepsy

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  Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder affecting 1 per cent to 2 per cent of the population.
  
  
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  People affected have recurring and spontaneous seizures. There are different types of seizures but they are always because of bursts of electrical activity in the brain, caused by a chemical imbalance responsible for the transmission of impulses.
  
  
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  Epilepsy can be caused by severe head injury, strokes, birth trauma, brain tumours, toxins, brain infection, brain diseases, genetic condition or drug abuse. In many cases the cause is unknown.
  
  
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  Purple Day, founded in the United States, began in 2008 and has become the international day for epilepsy awareness.
  
  
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  For more information about the Purple Day Walk call Adele Pacey (07) 366 6304 or (027) 425 9628.

Additional reporting by Cherie Taylor

Email: whare.akuhata@dailypost.co.nz