Llanelli buildings light up for International Epilepsy Awareness Day
Llanelli Town Council and Llanelli Rural Council buildings lit up purple last night, to recognise the International Day for Epilepsy Awareness.
The buildings were illuminated on Wednesday night to mark Purple Day, which falls on March 26th every year. Purple Day is the internationally recognised day for epilepsy awareness, and is one of the biggest fundraising dates in epilepsy charities’ calendars.
Epilepsy affects around 600,000 people in the UK and 79 people are diagnosed every day. 36,000 people are living with epilepsy in Wales alone.
Epilepsy Action is a national charity helping people with epilepsy across Wales, England and Northern Ireland. The charity strives to improve the lives of people with epilepsy, and offers a range of services including support groups, an award-winning helpline and a counselling service in Wales. Last year, on Purple Day, over £31,000 was raised by supporters for Epilepsy Action.
Purple Day was founded in 2008 by eight-year-old Cassidy Megan. Cassidy wanted to raise awareness for people with epilepsy and help them to see that they aren’t alone. Over the years, Purple Day has grown and every year thousands of people come together to help make a difference for people living with epilepsy.
Epilepsy Action Cymru’s Manager, Jan Paterson, said “It was so lovely to see the buildings light up yesterday, and really embrace the importance of epilepsy awareness. The buildings looked so beautiful and, hopefully, it made people stop and think about Purple Day.
“Raising awareness of epilepsy is so important as it is often a very misunderstood condition. Purple Day is an amazing day for the epilepsy community, as we know it puts epilepsy into the spotlight. However, we want to remind people that Epilepsy Action is here for you on the other 364 days of the year too.”
For more information, visit www.epilepsy.org.uk . Epilepsy Action’s helpline is available online, or on the phone via 0808 800 5050.
