SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - The Epilepsy Southern Cape / Karoo Branch has joined the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) as well as millions of people around the world in taking 50 Million Steps for Epilepsy.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy and this initiative aims to take one step for each person with the condition.

The campaign started on Monday 4 January and will end on Monday 8 February, International Epilepsy Day. Participants will be walking to raise awareness, improve visibility, and increase understanding of epilepsy.

It is easy to track your daily steps if you have a Fitbit or step tracker, and you can also use your smartphone to track your steps.

If you do not have a tracker or smartphone, you can still estimate your steps. On average, there are 1 350 steps in a kilometre. You can simply walk 3,8 kilometres to achieve 5 000 steps. 

The Southern Cape / Karoo branch not only got its residents and Knysna at large to take steps for epilepsy, but also to take part in a video competition for submitting the best dance in four different categories. 

Epilepsy SA Southern Cape / Karoo director Lee-Anne van den Bergh taking part in a Jerusalema Challenge in August 2020. Photos: Blake Linder

Entries closed on Monday 11 January, and judges were yet to choose a winner at the time of writing.

If you would like to get involved in the 50 Million Steps campaign, call Ashleigh Smith on 044 382 2155, see the Facebook page (Epilepsy South Cape Karoo Branch) or send Ashleigh an e-mail at marketing.sck@epilepsy.org.za.

You can also contribute your steps to the international step counter on the 50 Million Steps website, where each person adds their steps to achieve the 50 Million Steps target. At the time of writing, 17,5 million steps had been taken.

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