ABOUT PURPLE DAY

Purple Day is a grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. On 26 March each year, people from around the globe are asked to wear purple and spread the word about epilepsy.

Purple Day was founded in 2008, by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada. Motivated by her own struggles with epilepsy, Cassidy started Purple Day in an effort to get people talking about the disorder and inform those with seizures that they are not alone. She named the day Purple Day after the internationally recognised colour for epilepsy, lavender.

Over 100,000 students worldwide have been wearing purple on 26 March! Hundreds of workplaces and organisations (including Epilepsy Queensland) have also joined the campaign, wearing purple to work and hosting Purple Day events and promotions.

Epilepsy Australia is the official Australian partner of Purple Day and has joined up with other epilepsy organisations from across the globe including Canada, USA, UK and South Africa to make Purple Day even bigger.

Epilepsy Queensland is the Queensland member of Epilepsy Australia and is proud to have the official role of promoting Purple Day throughout Queensland.

This year our theme is 'unmasking epilepsy'!

YOU CAN HELP US TO UNMASK EPILEPSY

You can become involved and help us to increase awareness of epilepsy and raise much needed funds for Epilepsy Queensland. By doing so, your valued fundraising efforts will assist to provide vital services and programs for the 90,000 Queensland children and adults living with epilepsy.

• Wear purple on 26 March and encourage others to do the same - from wearing an awareness ribbon to dressing in purple or going all out and dying your hair purple!
• Host a Purple Day awareness/fundraising party/event/activity at home, school, work or play on or before Purple Day no matter how small or large - every $$ is greatly appreciated.
• Become a Purple Day Hero. In just minutes you can build your own online fundraising page and approach your supporters for a tax deductible donation by emailing a unique link to your own Purple Day webpage. Each donation is recorded on your page along with any message of support from your donors. Please go to www.everydayhero.com.au/event/purpleday.
• Make a tax deductible donation to Epilepsy Queensland's own Purple Day Hero page and leave a message - www.everydayhero.com.au/EQI_Purple_Day.
• Purple Day Merchandise - A great range of merchandise including ribbons, badges, pens, bracelets and wristbands is available to buy OR sell. Unsold merchandise to be returned with funds raised. Pre-payment not required - however approval conditions will apply. Merchandise comes with or without a box for displaying on shop/office counters. Please complete and return our Merchandise Order Form.
• Encourage your local community, schools and businesses to get involved by holding a mask-themed event or free (purple) dress day in return for a gold coin donation.
• Bright ideas for unmasking epilepsy-
• Get creative and organise a mask making activity - crafty and fun for all ages. Display at a masked art exhibition.
• Host a masquerade themed event - morning tea, cocktails, gala ball, a day at the races, fashion parade, birthday party, or even a wedding!
• Arrange a Who is it wearing that mask? contest. Place masks on photo's and images and see who can guess the person behind the mask.
• Get the community involved - ask local identities to create a mask for a great cause with the public guessing who made which one.
• Have a face painting stall at your school, fete or market.
• Organise a best masked four legged friend event.
• Hold a mask party of a different kind. Decorate a swimming mask and hold a pool party, host a masked super heroes party . . . Who else wears masks party.
• Pharmacies are invited to register for the Purple Pharmacy Project.
• Schools and Early Learning Centres can register to receive free stickers and temporary tattoos for their Purple Day free dress day/fundraising activities. All registered Primary Schools and ELCs will be sent a free Purple Day Resource Pack.

CONTACT US NOW!

For further information about Purple Day, promotion materials, how you can get involved and/or to register your interest, please contact our Fundraising and PR Manager, Leigh Gilbert on 07 3435 5000 or email fundraising@epilepsyqueensland.com.au.

Epilepsy Queensland's Purple Day Ambassadors, Heroes, Schools and Workplaces will be added to the official international Purple Day website - so register your interest today!!! 

A MESSAGE FROM CASSIDY

Hi, my name is Cassidy Megan. I'm 10 years old and I have epilepsy. I started Purple Day because I wanted to tell everyone about epilepsy, especially that all seizures are not the same and that people with epilepsy are ordinary people just like everyone else. I also wanted kids with epilepsy to know that they are not alone.

Before I started Purple Day, I was afraid to tell people about my epilepsy because I thought they would make fun of me. After the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia, Canada did a presentation in my class, I started to talk with the other kids about my seizures. That is when I decided to become a spokesperson for kids with epilepsy.

Please join me in wearing purple on March 26th to support epilepsy awareness.

Cassidy (2008)

DOWNLOADS

• Click here to watch our Purple Day TV featuring the founder Cassidy
• Poster
• Poster #2
• Information
• School/ELC Information Go Purple
• Registration Form
• School/ELC Registration Form
• Merchandise Order Form

Please join us in wearing purple on 26 March to support epilepsy awareness worldwide.