Purple is to brain, like pink is to breast

TORONTO - "Think Pink" is the saying we associate the most with breast cancer, but maybe someone needs to come up with a similar catch phrase for epilepsy. Unfortunately, nothing rhymes with purple, and when a 12 yr-old is the founder of a national event, maybe she really deserves one.

12 yr-old cheerleader Cassidy Megan of Halifax, Nova Scotia, created Purple Day in 2008 (she was 9 at the time) to raise awareness and to dispel myths about epilepsy. 300,000 people in Canada and 50 million people worldwide are affected by epilepsy, which is more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease combined. Epilepsy is still misunderstood and people continue to face social stigma and discrimination.

"I started Purple Day because when I first found out that I had epilepsy, I was afraid and embarrassed of what other people would think. I also thought I was the only kid in the world with epilepsy," said Cassidy. "This year my cheer squad is helping me raise awareness about epilepsy. We created a Purple Day video to remind people living with epilepsy that they aren't alone."

Epilepsy is a group of disorders of the central nervous system, specifically the brain. It is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures and can occur at any age. A seizure occurs when the normal electrical balance in the brain is lost. The brain's nerve cells misfire, firing when they shouldn't. The type of seizure depends on how many cells fire and which area of the brain is involved. A person that has a seizure may experience an alteration in behaviour, consciousness, movement, perception and/or sensation. 

Purple Day runs annually on March 26th. Show your support by wearing something purple that day, and visit www.purpleday.org to learn more about epilepsy.

And that catchy saying? I don't know if they want one, but if I could think of something that would capture people like "Think Pink" does, I'd share it with Megan.  

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TOP PHOTO: Cassidy Megan (photo courtesy of Canadian Epilepsy Alliance)

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