PURPLE DAY
Purple Day is a growing international movement that started with a young Canadian girl.
In 2008, nine-year-old Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia asked her school principal if she could organize a day where everyone wore shades of purple – lavender has long been the colour associated with epilepsy campaigns – to get people talking about epilepsy and dispel some of the myths.
In 2009, the New York-based Anita Kaufmann Foundation and the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia joined forces to launch Purple Day internationally. On March 26, people from around the globe are asked to wear purple and spread the word about epilepsy.
On December 22, 2010, The Canadian House of Commons passed Bill C-430 – The Purple Day Act – to “increase public awareness about epilepsy”.
Why? Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide. That’s more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease combined. March is Epilepsy Awareness Month.
Why purple? Lavender is the international colour for epilepsy. The lavender flower is also often associated with solitude, which is representative of the feelings of isolation many people affected by epilepsy and seizure disorders often feel.
In the true spirit of Purple Day Care-Alive held abrunch to improve epilepsy awareness by (over)dressing in purple.
We also participated in The Great Purple Cupcake Project:
Conceived by three smart cupcakes at The Anita Kaufmann Foundation (AKF), The Great Purple Cupcake Project is a sweet epilepsy awareness initiative supporting Purple Day (March 26th). During the week of March 26th, AKF invites bakeries and cupcakeries across North America to feature PURPLE CUPCAKES in an effort to promote awareness and donate a portion of the proceeds. This year Care-Alive got in on the act and lined up a couple of bakeries in the GTA.
We’d like to thank the participating bakeries and Epilepsy Toronto for inviting them to their Purple Day concert in Yonge Dundas Square.
It’s the Icing on the Cake
Address: 1238 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON, M4L 1C3, 416.469.4973
http://itstheicingonthecake.ca/
info@itstheicingonthecake.ca
Swirls
Toronto Location: 4158 Dundas Street West, Etobicoke, ON, M8X 1X3, 416.231.7774
Mississauga Location: 186 Queen St. South, Streetsville, Ontario L5M 1L3, 905.285.0991
http://www.swirlscupcakes.ca
info@swirlscupcakes.ca
Cassidy’s Message – 2011
Hi – This is Cassidy Megan,
I would like to thank everybody around the world for helping support Purple Day and people around the world with epilepsy. I also want to thank our global partners, the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia and The Anita Kaufmann Foundation. If none of you guys were here to help me and support Purple Day, Purple Day wouldn’t have succeeded so much. So a big THANK YOU to all of you!!!
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. I wanted to have one day where everyone in the world could show support for people with epilepsy and teach people about epilepsy.
Educating people about epilepsy is so important because people need to know what to do if they see someone having a seizure and they need to know that there are different types of seizures and that they don’t have to be afraid of epilepsy or the people who have it. Education also helps people with epilepsy know they aren’t alone.
Since I started Purple Day, I feel special in a way because I am helping people around the world. I don’t feel alone, scared or embarrassed anymore and I really hope other people around the world don’t feel that way anymore either.
I love that I have made a whole lot of friends from all around the world since starting Purple Day and I am proud of all of us, because we are helping people everywhere learn and be aware.
I would really like it if you would continue to support Purple Day and help me and other people around the world learn about epilepsy. Please also let them know we aren’t alone. Please continue to pass the word around and spread awareness. I am so happy and excited that Purple Day has gotten so big from all of our hard work. It is so exciting to think just how big it will keep growing every year with all of us working together!
Thank you again. YOU ROCK!!!
Cassidy
Niagara Falls on Purple Day
CN Tower on Purple Day
