This April I will be taking on the London Marathon for Epilepsy Action! Epilepsy Action is the UK’s biggest community of people who want a better future for people affected by epilepsy.

Just after my 10th birthday, I was diagnosed with epilepsy after having seizures. This was a scary and uncertain time for me and my family, especially with there being so many common misconceptions surrounding epilepsy as a condition.

Nearly 17 years later (that makes me feel old😳), after a brief relapse when moving to London, I am now living a normal, seizure-free life. I am so grateful that I am able to do this by taking 6 tiny tablets a day. It really is mind blowing when you come to think of it!

Sadly this is not the case for many people suffering with epilepsy and I recently found out that only 60% of people with epilepsy ever get seizure control. For many people with epilepsy, the condition has a massive impact on their daily lives, in ways that might not even be expected; such as being unable to drive, difficulties with mental health, being unsafe to work, sleep issues, memory issues, complications with pregnancy and side effects from medication to name only a few.

For those newly diagnosed or living with epilepsy and those around them it can be incredibly overwhelming and scary. Epilepsy Action offers free vital services such as their Freephone helpline, website, local Talk and Support groups around the UK, e-learning courses, and their Befriending service. The charity’s freephone helpline is a vital service, with trained advisors who provide much-needed advice and support.

Epilepsy Action is a fantastic resource for those with epilepsy and their website is FULL of information and advice about the condition, which I for one have found really comforting and helpful.

I would really appreciate any donation you could make towards this fantastic charity, helping them to continue the amazing work that they do. I am so grateful to Epilepsy Action for trusting me to make it through the 26.2 miles, and my first ever marathon on their behalf!!