Statement made on 24 March 2010 by Senator Elizabeth Hubley
Hon. Elizabeth Hubley:
Honourable senators, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting an estimated 50 million people worldwide, about 1 per cent of the general population. That is more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease combined. Approximately 300,000 Canadians have epilepsy.
In 2008, 11-year-old Cassidy Meagan of Nova Scotia founded Purple Day with the help of the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia. This year, Purple Day is Friday, March 26, and people around the globe are invited to wear purple to bring awareness to epilepsy.
Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent seizures. Although approximately one in ten people will experience at least one seizure during their life, a single seizure is not epilepsy.
Epilepsy can be present at any age, although its onset is most often in childhood or in later years of life. Seizures can be controlled through medications, surgery and diet; and complementary therapies such as yoga, massage therapy, meditation, aromatherapy and acupuncture have proven effective in seizure control in some individuals.
I invite honourable senators to join me in wearing purple on Friday to bring awareness to epilepsy and epilepsy research.