Killen caged to raise cash for epilepsy
The Hamilton West MP will be spending this Friday night behind bars — but for a good cause.
Gerard Killen is taking part in a fundraising event for Epilepsy Scotland.
And once £500 of ‘bail money’ has been raised, Police Scotland will let him out of the cells in Glasgow.
Mr Killen said: “I am excited to do something to raise awareness of National Epilepsy Week, if a little apprehensive at the thought of being locked up.
“Hopefully it raises money for a great cause.
“Epilepsy is a very widely misunderstood condition. When many people think of epilepsy, they think of convulsions or seizures triggered by flashing lights — but that isn’t the reality of most people’s experience.
“Only about five per cent of people with epilepsy are sensitive to light and many people’s seizures never involve convulsions.
“The event will do a lot to raise the issue of epilepsy and bring it into the public conversation.”
The event is called #Breakingfree Fromstigma. Its aim is to break down the stigmas that surround the 55,000 people living with epilepsy in Scotland.
With access only to a mobile phone, tablet and laptop, a total of £500 must be raised before the MP is released.
And he can Tweet, Instagram and Facebook his way to freedom, and in doing so, raise awareness of epilepsy.