Purple Day®

In 2008, eight-year-old Cassidy Megan from Canada decided she wanted to help raise awareness for people with epilepsy and to help them realize that they’re not alone. Cassidy picked purple to represent this day because lavender is internationally recognized as the flower for epilepsy. Over the years, the event grew to become the international success we know today, celebrated by the epilepsy community from all over the world.

More About Cassidy Megan and Purple Day®

Cassidy Megan is from Nova Scotia, Canada. She is the founder of Purple Day. Cassidy founded Purple Day in 2008 due to her own struggles with epilepsy. She wanted to find others in the world who had epilepsy and let them know that they don’t have to feel scared and afraid like she did. And she wanted to let them know that they are not alone in their journey.

Cassidy also wanted to teach those without epilepsy to not be afraid and how to help someone if they see them having a seizure. Over the years working on Purple Day and with epilepsy advocacy, Cassidy has had the honor of speaking across the globe both virtually and in person at various organizations, hospitals, schools, universities, epilepsy associations, conferences, webinars and events.

Cassidy has spoken in person in Japan, India, and at various places within the United States and Canada. She has participated in virtual events, Instagram Lives, conferences and webinars with organizations, chapters of the IBE and ILAE and medical professionals in places like Brazil, Australia, Africa, Ukraine, Korea, UK. These are in addition to locations across the USA, Canada, and more.

Cassidy also has a YouTube channel where she posts a podcast called Unmasked with Cassidy Megan. In this podcast she interviews those living with epilepsy as well as professionals in the epilepsy field covering topics such EEGs, Keto diet, VNS, memory, mental health and more.

Action Campaigns

Epilepsy Action campaigns for people with epilepsy all year round, raising valuable awareness and funds to support everyone affected by the condition. Purple Day represents the biggest chance in the year to get the word out about how important it is to understand epilepsy.

Be part of an incredible community and organize a fundraising event! Whether it’s a cake sale, Wear it Purple Day, or a personal challenge, whatever you do, no matter how big or small, you can make a difference.

Find out about epilepsy

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain, causing seizures. It’s more common than you might think.

Key facts about epilepsy:

• Anyone can have a one-off seizure, but this doesn’t always mean they have epilepsy. When someone has epilepsy, it means they have a tendency to have epileptic seizures.
• An epileptic seizure happens when there’s a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
• There are lots of different types of seizures, each with different symptoms.
• People can develop epilepsy for many reasons, including brain damage, infection and genetics, but often doctors can’t find a cause.
• Medicine is the main treatment, but there are other possible treatments if medicine doesn’t work.