Summerland’s Epilepsy Awareness Squad will hold a Purple Day celebration on March 26.
Purple Day began in Nova Scotia in 2008 and has gained worldwide acceptance. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness about epilepsy internationally.
On March 26, beginning at 5 p.m. the Epilepsy Awareness Squad will host an evening at The Sweet Tooth Café in Summerland.
The event will include door prizes, an open mic for local talent and information on epilepsy. Participants are encouraged to wear purple to the event.
The evening is planned as an awareness raising event rather than as a fundraiser (although there will be a donation jar on site).
Organizers Dan Nixon and Catie Shaw wanted an event that would be open to all age groups.
Local talent of all ages are invited to come and join in the open mic part of the evening. Mics and amps will be provided. Nixon and Shaw are Grade 11 students from Summerland Secondary School. They are the co-founders of both the Epilepsy Awareness Squad and the Youth Empowerment Project. They created the Epilepsy Awareness Squad in 2013 after Shaw spent a week at B.C. Children’s Hospital for treatment of her epilepsy.
More information about the campaign can be found at yepnow.org or by emailing caitie@yepnow.org.
