Did you know that around 1 in 100 people has epilepsy? It can affect anyone at any age: I had my first seizure about 6 years ago, when I was 21. 

I was in my last year of university, and it scared my flatmates and me. None of them had seen a seizure before, and luckily they did the right thing  - but many people don't know what to do in that situation.

After leaving uni, I spent some time working with children with special needs, some of whom had epilepsy. The training that I underwent for
that job meant that when I was finally diagnosed with it myself 2 years ago, my family and I were already quite well equipped to cope with it.

But epilepsy is still so misunderstood by so many. There are so many different forms of epilepsy, besides the drop-to-the-fall-full-body-jerking-seizures usually portrayed in the media (called tonic-clonic seizures.) Some seizures are only noticeable because of a blank stare; some cause slurred speech; some involuntary arm movements. 

This year, I am 2 years seizure free, and I will be walking 500 miles across the Northern coast of Spain, from San Sebastian to Santiago. I will doing it by myself and it will take me roughly 5 weeks. 

Why am I doing this to myself?! Well this is something I would never be able to do by myself without my medication. It will be hard, and I will ache all over! But that is exactly how it feels to have a seizure - one can drain you for days. I think 5 weeks of walking to raise some awareness is worth it! 

£6 can help experts support someone newly diagnosed with epilepsy, providing advice and information when they need it most

£25 can help campaign to protect existing epilepsy specialist nurses from NHS cuts.

£180 could fund an awareness session at a school, work place or care home by specially trained volunteers.

Please consider donating as much as you can. Let's break the fear and taboo around epilepsy!

Thank you for sponsoring me :) Buen Camino!