GOING PURPLE FOR GOOD CAUSE
Family at fore of awareness
‘‘ WITH THE HELP OF MEDICATION I AM NOW SEIZURE FREE. SAM BRYCE
TOOWOOMBA man Sam Bryce knows the impacts of epilepsy all too well.
Diagnosed with the disorder early in life, Mr Bryce is helping raise awareness during Purple Day for Epilepsy today.
A second presentation in the Bryce family means the cause is especially important.
“I was diagnosed as a teenager nearly 20 years ago, and with the help of medication I am now seizure free,” Mr Bryce said.
“My son Stirling started having seizures a few months before his first birthday.
“We worked with a paediatric neurologist to thoroughly investigate the cause and have put him on the right medication to control the seizures to date – which is a great relief for my wife and I.”
Mr Bryce, who was elected as a board member for Epilepsy Qld in December, is encouraging residents to wear purple today in support of those suffering epilepsy.
He and his son are not alone – more than 65 million people around the world are currently living with epilepsy.
In Australia alone, about 250,000 people live with epilepsy and one in 50 people will have epilepsy at some point in their life.
Mr Bryce and wife Fiona were busy yesterday preparing purple cupcakes for an epilepsy awareness event at GrainCorp, Mr Bryce’s employer.
GrainCorp is hosting a Purple Day morning tea tomorrow, raising money through gold coin donations.
The company will match sponsorship from family and friends, with all funds to be donated to Epilepsy Queensland.
As the sun sets today, landmarks across the state will be illuminated purple including Toowoomba’s Victoria St Bridge and the Civic Centre in Ipswich. For more information, go to purpleday.com.au