In recognition of March being epilepsy awareness month, today is Purple Day for Epilepsy.
It’s an annual, global awareness day for the disease.
The day was founded in 2008 by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan.
Motivated by her own struggles with the disease, she started Purple Day for Epilepsy in an effort to educate others about the disorder, and to remind those living with seizures that they are not alone.
Megan named the day after the internationally recognized colour for epilepsy – lavender.
As a result, on March 26, people around the world wear purple in support of the disease – which affects nearly 300,000 people in Canada and more than 50 million people across the globe.
Because this year’s event takes place during spring break, students at Abbotsford Middle School will be holding their own event of support on Thursday, March 31.