In October 2022, on my 30th birthday I was on holiday with my wonderful wife. We spent the evening eating and drinking and celebrating. I went to bed like normal and woke up the next morning in a hospital bed.

I don't remember what happened, but I had had a seizure during the night. While I was unconscious, Lucy had managed to call an ambulance, direct them to our Air BnB (in the middle of Budapest, in a massive apartment complex and with no door number) and get me into an ambulance when in my delirium I was apparently very uncooperative (hard to believe, I know). A superhuman effort during a time where she must have been very frightened.

A few months later, over the Christmas period, I had three further seizures in the space of three days. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (perfect timing), each time whilst asleep. I was hospitalised on each occasion. During my third seizure I fully tore my rotator cuff as I was trapped between the bed and the wardrobe while seizing.

Thankfully, the amazing doctors looking after me managed to work out the cause of my seizures and found medication that worked for me. I was incredibly lucky that the first medication I was put on stabilised my seizures. Many people with epilepsy aren't so lucky and it can take months if not years to find the right medication with no breakout seizures or extreme side effects. For some, this never happens and they continue to face the prospect of further seizures for the rest of their lives.

Since then I have faced a number of challenges. Long term physio and rehab for my injured shoulder was difficult and being restricted at work for six months was extremely frustrating.

However, if I'm honest the longer term effects were in terms of my mental health. I had the feeling of being betrayed by my own body. There was nothing I could have done differently to avoid what happened and I felt angry at the world for a long time. I struggled to sleep because I was scared that I might have another seizure and have to go through the whole process again.

It took me over a year to admit that I needed some help and I completed the NHS self referral for counselling, which helped me immensely and I am now in a much healthier place.

I have been extremely lucky to have got off so lightly and there are thousands of people in the UK who suffer from epilepsy with much more severe or longer lasting effects.

Epilepsy is also not very well understood. In the words of my neurology consultant, "We understand what causes things but a lot of the time we don't really know why."

Epilepsy Action are a fantastic charity. They offer emotional support to those suffering the effects of epilepsy and their families, run seizure first aid courses, give advice on things like when you can drive again, how to reapply for your licence and information on what other resources are available.

I am thrilled to be able to raise money for a charity that is close to my heart and appreciate any donation of any size. I know times are hard!