Greetings Epilepsy Community,
We as a collective are painfully aware of how little the general public knows about epilepsy and how the lack of discourse about the disorder likely contributes to epilepsy research being underfunded by the government relative to other neurological conditions. One of the ways to tackle this problem is to increase awareness of epilepsy, seizures, and the impact upon individuals’ daily lives. By taking epilepsy out of the shadows and talking about it, we raise the profile, increase understanding, and build a sense of urgency around the need for cures. The recent opportunity for CURE Epilepsy to air a public service announcement (PSA) on ESPN this past month during 12 games of The Basketball Tournament is one example of how we can drive awareness. We hope this PSA helped increase understanding of epilepsy and that people exposed will seek to learn more about the condition.
Though TV provides a large audience for our message, there are many ways to increase awareness in our respective communities. Share a Seizing Life® episode with a friend. Wear CURE Epilepsy merchandise out and about. Tell coworkers about a relative’s diagnosis. Suggest seizure first aid training in the PTA meeting. All of these methods of raising awareness might not reach millions like the PSA did, but each step moves us forward toward a world with less stigma against epilepsy and more support for the epilepsy community.
Do you have other creative ideas? We would love to hear from you!
With a commitment to inspire hope and deliver impact,
