I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 13 years old. Since then I have experienced a lot of the uncertainty that comes with an epilepsy diagnosis. One of the biggest challenges I continue to struggle with is that epilepsy leads to the feeling of loosing control over your own body. Not being able to trust your own health can be overwhelmingly scary at times.

In my second year of university I joined the school track team, and quickly fell in love with the way running made me feel. I was able to feel a sense of control over my own body, and push myself to run faster than I ever thought I could. Whenever I would run a workout or a race I had the feeling of, 'wow, the same body that had once failed me is able to overcome that and achieve this new goal'. It has been incredibly helpful for my mental health, a side effect of epilepsy that is not talked about enough.

Even still to this day running helps me when I feel that sense of uncertainty with my seizures. In the most recent months my seizures have stopped responding to medications as well as they used to. There is concern that perhaps I'm developing a tolerance, or that the type of epilepsy I have was misdiagnosed. I am about to enter the diagnosis process that I went through over 10 years ago all over again, and go through lots of medication changes. Throughout all this, running has been what I can turn to. Even as recently as this past week when I had a tonic-clonic seizure, after I was recovered I went back to running practice with my teammates and that workout meant so much to me.

My own experience with epilepsy, and my newer experience of working with epilepsy patients as a nursing student, has opened my eyes to how important it is to advocate and teach others about this disorder. So in honour of Purple Day on March 26th I have created a fundraising goal of $2600 to raise funds and awareness for epilepsy research through Epilepsy Canada. To further raise awareness I am going to do a 26km run this weekend as a tribute to Purple Day. Any donations or spreading awareness would be immensely appreciated!

If you want to hear more about my story please check out my ambassador page on Epilepsy Canada's website.Or if you choose to take one thing away from my fundraiser, please let it be that if you are struggling with epilepsy or any chronic health challenges try to find your 'running' whatever that may be. Although I adore running, I also love painting and drawing to help with my mental health. Somedays I just don't feel like going for a run and maybe I'll try a new DIY craft or go support a local drag show in my neighbourhood (a couple other things that make me happy)! Chronic illness can bring a lot of hard moments throughout life, but we can really acheive anything we set our minds to - the road to get there just may look a little different!

Happy Purple Day!

Becca :)

Since 1966, Epilepsy Canada has been dedicated to positively affecting the lives of those living with epilepsy. Our sole mandate is to raise funds for epilepsy research with the goal of finding a cure.

Up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated; the risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is 3x higher than someone without epilepsy.

75% of people with epilepsy living in low-income countries do not get the treatment they need. Not only can medium and low income countries not afford treatement, they cannont invest in epilepsy research.

This puts the responsibility on countries like Canada to step up and find a cure, not only for the 370,000 Canadians, but for the estimated 50 million people worldwide living with epilepsy.