Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures. These are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. Epilepsy can get in the way of life, especially when seizures keep happening, which can massively affect someone’s ability to do everyday activities (such as concentrating or remembering things), over a long period of time. As epilepsy can affect people in different ways, everyone's experience of living with the condition is different. This is Blake's story...

I had my first Tonic Clonic seizure 5 years ago, resulting in me losing my driving license at the age of 19. My independence, confidence and life as I knew it, was destroyed. I was in denial to begin with and thought it was a one off... but soon realised, as the seizures continued, this was real and not only distressing  for my physical and mental health but family and loved ones too. Although epilepsy isn't visible to all, the black eyes, broken bones, scars and sores inside my mouth from biting chunks out of my tongue, will stay with me for a lifetime.

The diagnosis was really hard for me to accept, with a constant feeling of isolation, anxiety and the unknown.. not forgetting the side effects of taking 10 tablets a day including short term memory, exhaustion, change in personality, numbness and irritability. However, the diagnosis had the largest impact on my career pathway in the Kayaking world. 

I left school younger than usual with no qualifications to pursue this by travelling the world with Team GB and coaching alongside. I had the full support of my local community who supplied grants to aid the progression of my ambition to race at Tokyo Olympics. After having my first seizure, Kayaking was not an option.  I got offered a job in NZ coaching young athletes up until they discovered my epilepsy. I'd like to think it was simply because employers didn't want to take any risks in relation to the white water conditions. However, I have since realised that there is a huge stigma around this condition and even the simplest of job roles are hesitant to accept my applications due my medical condition. I felt as though no one wanted me for who I was. 

It was only after meeting my partner within the last year, who has opened up my mind into realising the truth of epilepsy... it doesn't control, confine or define my life.

I would love to think, one day, I won't have to take as many tablets to control my seizures as I currently do and perhaps, fundraising from the London Marathon will have aided the research into discovering new findings to help someone just like me, closer to the start line of their epilepsy journey.  

Epilepsy Action provides advice, guidance and support for anyone and everyone involved in Epilepsy. We're proud to be fundraising for a charity that is breaking barriers for epileptics by growing campaigns to make the public more aware, strengthening attitudes and influencing government policies to improve the stigma around epilepsy. The money raised will fund vital time spent supporting health professionals with up to date research and treatments, which are essential in helping the 600,00 people in the UK with epilepsy, live a 'normal' life.

We aren't just doing this for Epilepsy Action or to show that epilepsy doesn't confine lives... but for every single family member/loved one that has lost sleep, worried, needed advice, support and craves new research every single day. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. All donations are greatly appreciated in helping such a great charity that is close to our hearts. X