First National Purple Day for Epilepsy

Thanks to a young Nova Scotian, people across the country are learning about epilepsy on the first national Purple Day today, March 26.

In 2008, Cassidy Megan of Halifax started Purple Day to raise awareness about epilepsy. Support for the day has grown around the world, and a federal Purple Day Act was passed last year making it a nationally recognized day in Canada.

"Cassidy was just nine years old when she started Purple Day to help other people like her who live with epilepsy," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "Her spirit and leadership have built global support and understanding so people living with epilepsy know they are not alone."

Premier Dexter today proclaimed March 26 as Purple Day in Nova Scotia. More than 65 million people worldwide have epilepsy. It is a condition that affects the nervous system and causes seizures.

"I'm really happy that Purple Day is now a national day and I hope that we can keep making it bigger to teach more people about epilepsy," said Ms. Megan. "I want to thank the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia and others for supporting this day, and to make sure people know what to do when a person has a seizure."

When a person has a seizure, bystanders should remain calm, move objects away and put something soft under the person's head if he or she is convulsing. People should call for help if the seizure lasts more than five minutes. People should not hold the person down or put anything in his or her mouth. If there are no convulsions, someone should stay with the person and provide reassurance.

Ms. Megan hopes to raise awareness about epilepsy through the Ellen DeGeneres Show. She is asking people to watch and share, like or comment on her video at www.purpleday.org to gain Ms. DeGeneres's attention.

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Thanks to a young Nova Scotian, people across the country

are learning about epilepsy on the first national Purple Day

today (March 26th).

Cassidy Megan of Halifax was nine years old when she

started Purple Day in 2008 to raise awareness about epilepsy.

Support for the day has grown around the world, and a

federal Purple Day Act was passed last year making it a

nationally recognized day in Canada.

Premier Darrell Dexter says Ms. Megan's spirit and

leadership have built global support and understanding so people

living with epilepsy know they are not alone.

Ms. Megan is asking people to watch her video at purple day

dot org so she can get the attention of talk show host Ellen

DeGeneres to raise more awareness about epilepsy.