Purple Day is a global grassroots event that was formed with the intention to increase worldwide

awareness Awareness is the state of being conscious of something. More specifically, it is the ability to directly know and perceive, to feel, or to be cognizant of events. Another definition describes it as a state wherein a subject is aware of some in ...

epilepsy Epilepsy is a group of non-communicable neurological disorders characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizures can vary from brief and nearly undetectable periods to long periods of vigorous shaking due to abnormal electrica ...

, and to dispel common

myth Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...

s and fears of this

neurological disorder A neurological disorder is any disorder of the nervous system. Structural, biochemical or electrical abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord or other nerves can result in a range of symptoms. Examples of symptoms include paralysis, muscle weakn ...

. Further intentions of this movement are to reduce the

social stigma Social stigma is the disapproval of, or discrimination against, an individual or group based on perceived characteristics that serve to distinguish them from other members of a society. Social stigmas are commonly related to culture, gender, ra ...

s commonly endured by many individuals afflicted with the condition, to provide assurance and advocacy to those living with epilepsy, and to encourage individuals living with the condition to take action in their communities to achieve these aims. The

day A day is the time period of a full rotation of the Earth with respect to the Sun. On average, this is 24 hours, 1440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. In everyday life, the word "day" often refers to a solar day, which is the length between two ...

occurs annually on March 26.

Formation and history

The concept of Purple Day was initiated by a nine-year-old Canadian named Cassidy Megan, and was motivated by her own struggle with epilepsy. The first Purple Day event was held on March 26, 2008, and is now known as the ''Purple Day for Epilepsy'' campaign. The Epilepsy Association of

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

joined Cassidy and helped to spread awareness of Cassidy's initiative. In 2009, the New York-based Anita Kaufmann Foundation and Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia joined to launch Purple Day internationally and increase the involvement of organizations, schools, businesses, politicians and celebrities. On March 26, 2009, over 100,000 students, 95 workplaces and 116 politicians participated in Purple Day. In March 2009, the official USA Purple Day Party launch was organized by the Anita Kaufmann Foundation. Canadian

Paul Shaffer Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (born November 28, 1949) is a Canadian singer, composer, actor, author, comedian, and multi-instrumentalist who served as David Letterman's musical director, band leader, and sidekick on the entire run of both ''Late Ni ...

of the ''

Late Show with David Letterman The ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by Letterman's production ...

'' attended the official launch at Dylan's Candy Bar in New York City. In March 2012, Purple Day received the

Royal Assent Royal assent is the method by which a monarch formally approves an act of the legislature, either directly or through an official acting on the monarch's behalf. In some jurisdictions, royal assent is equivalent to promulgation, while in oth ...

and became a legal day for epilepsy awareness in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

. In December 2015, electronics retailer Dick Smith had arranged a major corporate partnership with

Epilepsy Action Australia Epilepsy Action Australia is an Australian charity providing education and support services to children and adults in Australia with epilepsy and other seizure disorders. The group is made up of caseworkers, registered nurse A registered nu ...

to support Purple Day in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

with a $50,000 cash sponsorship, prizes and exclusive distribution of Purple Day merchandise. A week prior to Purple Day celebrations in 2016, Dick Smith was placed in receivership. Later, the

Retail Food Group Retail Food Group (Australia) Limited, often abbreviated as RFG (), is an ASX listed company and Australian franchisor based in Robina, Queensland. It owns numerous companies including Gloria Jean's Coffees, Brumby's Bakeries, Donut King, Mi ...

provided a $50,000 donation to match Dick Smith's previously promised sponsorship. The Anita Kaufmann Foundation owns the US trademark "Purple Day", Reg No. 4,055,0330, dated November 15, 2011. The Epilepsy Association of the Maritimes own the Canadian trademark "Purple Day" Cassidy Megan, founder of Purple Day is sole copywrite owner

Description

Epilepsy Warrior Brooch May 2018 Purple Day

Purple Day is held annually on March 26. Supporters are encouraged to wear a purple-coloured item of clothing. Lavender is the international color for epilepsy and is also a color that symbolizes solitude. The goal of Purple Day is to increase general public awareness, to reduce the social stigma endured by many individuals with the condition, and to empower individuals living with epilepsy to take action in their communities. Purple Day is celebrated in Australia to fund various epilepsy support organisations including Epilepsy Australia, Epilepsy Queensland, and Epilepsy Foundation. During the 2018 edition of Purple Day, the Epilepsy Care Alliance called on the technology sector to push further innovations for the treatment for epilepsy. Purple Day was celebrated at

Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort, also called Walt Disney World or Disney World, is an entertainment resort complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States, near the cities of Orlando and Kissimmee. Opened on October 1, 1971, ...

in Orlando, Florida, for the third year in a row on March 1, 2020. About 1,000 people attended. It included a morning with Minnie and Mickey and had expo and information sessions in the afternoon. Some topics were: Seizure Freedom and the Family, Still Having Seizures Despite Medication, CBD products: FDA approved vs. non FDA approved, Seizure clusters, rescue meds, and therapy options, The Early Years, Navigating Change, and Becoming Adults. The day ended with a visit to Epcot where Spaceship Earth turned purple in support of epilepsy awareness. There was also a $250 prize.

Guinness World Record

In 2017, a

Guinness World Record ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

was reached during Purple Day by the Anita Kaufmann Foundation for the achievement of the largest ever epilepsy training session.

References

Cited works and further reading

* {{cite book , last1 = Grant, first1 = Colin, title=A Smell of Burning: The Story of Epilepsy, location=London, publisher=Boxtree Books, year=2016, isbn=978-0-224-10182-0

External links

Purple Day Home Page
Epilepsy organizations Health awareness days March observances Observances in Canada