Islanders urged to wear purple on 26 March to support epilepsy sufferers

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Bank Skipton International is calling on islanders to support International Purple Day to raise awareness of epilepsy.

The Channel Island bank’s staff will be wearing purple to work to raise funds for the Epilepsy Association. One in 100 people suffer from epilepsy in some form, with one in 20 having an epileptic seizure of some kind in their lives.

Vikki Militis started having seizures in 2005 when she was in her early 20s and is now married with two children. Doctors are unable to find the cause or control her condition.

"Epilepsy is so varied - it’s not just about dropping on the floor and shaking or about flashing lights," she said. "I’ve had many different types of seizure and have tried five different medications but when my brain is scanned it looks normal. People with epilepsy appear normal - you can’t tell someone has it just by looking at them. Yet I have a disability and the biggest impact for me is the fact I’m not able to drive: getting around Jersey on buses with a pushchair and two small children isn’t easy."

Skipton International Managing Director Jim Coupe is calling on other companies to help raise awareness of epilepsy and support fundraising by wearing purple. "There are many of our colleagues, friends and fellow islanders who suffer from this chronic condition and for those that do it is frightening and frustrating. As small island communities in the Channel Islands, we have limited specialist services and so it’s important that we all show our support for sufferers and let them know they are not alone."

Purple Day was started in 2008 by a nine-year-old Canadian girl. She chose the colour purple because in some cultures the lavender flower is associated with solitude, which represents the feelings of isolation many people affected by epilepsy feel.

You can get involved by visiting: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/fundraise-events/purple-day

To support Jersey Epilepsy Association please make cheques payable to: Jersey Epilepsy Association, and send to: Ken Le Brun, Treasurer, Les Beaux Reves, La Dimerie, St Mary, JE3 3DP.

Facts about epilepsy:

• Epilepsy affects over 65 million people worldwide 
• Epilepsy is a common serious neurological condition where there is a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain. 
• Epilepsy is usually only diagnosed after a person has had more than one seizure. 
• More than half a million people in the UK have epilepsy. This is around one in 100 people. 
• Anyone can develop epilepsy, it happens in all ages, races and social classes. Epilepsy is most commonly diagnosed in children and people over 65. 
• Seizures happen when there is a sudden interruption in the way the brain normally works. 
• There are over 40 different types of seizure ranging from someone simply going ‘blank’ for a few seconds, to falling to the ground and shaking, or convulsing.
• Not all seizures involve convulsions. 
• Some people are unconscious during their seizures and don’t remember what happens to them. 
• There are many different reasons why someone might develop epilepsy, but sometimes it just starts ‘out of the blue’ and the cause cannot be found. 
• One in 20 people will have a one-off epileptic seizure at some point in their life, but this doesn’t mean they have epilepsy. 
• One in 50 people will have epilepsy at some point in their life, but this doesn’t mean they’ll have it for life. 
• Up to 5% of people with epilepsy will be affected by flashing lights (photosensitive epilepsy) 
• There are 1,000 epilepsy-related deaths a year.