National director visits local epilepsy

KNYSNA NEWS - The Epilepsy SA Southern Cape/Karoo branch in Knysna last week received a special visit from the organisation's national director, Sharlene Cassel, who gave a speech about living and working with epilepsy.

Appointed in April this year, Cassel is Epilepsy SA's first-ever director living with epilepsy and she has worked her way up the ranks. She paid the branch in Rio Street in Knysna a special visit on Wednesday 20 October.

Cassel spoke of her experience having to live with epilepsy while still trying to live a 'normal' life. "I didn't attend a special-needs school growing up, I went to an 'ordinary' school," Cassel said. "I played a lot of different sports, and it was tough, really tough."

After matric she did a BA degree in psychology, education and English at the University of South Africa. She has been a Montessori school and Varsity College principal, among other things.

"It's incredible for us who are one of seven Epilepsy SA branches to have a national director who knows what it's like living and working with epilepsy," said Epilepsy SA Southern Cape/Karoo marketer and PRO Ashleigh Smith. "She brings a new perspective to our work that we haven't had before."

In addition to her motivational speech, Cassel handed over the branch's Flame of Courage award to 14-year-old Kiera-Leigh Bartie. The Flame of Courage is an award instituted by Epilepsy SA in March 2016 to recognise persons with epilepsy and their accomplishments.

The Southern Cape/Karoo branch nominated Kiera-Leigh as the branch's recipient in June. "As Kiki grew up, her family found that she loved to bake and make up 'concoctions', as her mother puts it," Smith explained. She is home-schooled too, and with her mother being unable to work due to Kiki's needs, their family decided to start a small home industry business called "Treats By Us".

"Their business makes sweets, fudge, biscuits and other sweet treats to bring in income, while allowing Kiki to do what she loves in the comfort and safety of their home, surrounded by her loving and supportive family," Smith continued. "The whole family gets involved in the creation of these treats and they are extremely close.

"Kiki has enjoyed this business so much that she would like to open her own shop one day to sell her treats and employ other people with special needs who cannot find employment elsewhere."

Epilepsy SA national director Sharlene Cassel with recipient of the Flame of Courage award Kiera-Leigh Bartie, her sister Kendra, and Southern Cape/Karoo director Lee-Anne van den Bergh.