Taking a walk for epilepsy

KNYSNA NEWS - Residents of the Epilepsy SA South Cape/Karoo branch got the 2022 National Epilepsy Week up and running with their annual Big Walk on Monday 14 February.

The Big Walk again formed part of the local Epilepsy SA branch's participation in the worldwide 50 Million Steps campaign, which was launched last year.

It wrapped up on the second Monday in February - annually celebrated as International Epilepsy Day. The campaign was run between 10 January and 14 February.

It entails that people around the world walk as many steps as they can in the given time frame, with the aim to reach 50 000 000, as this is the estimated number of people in the world who live with epilepsy. This year the campaign saw a total of 91 452 904 steps taken to raise awareness of epilepsy.

International Epilepsy Day also kick-starts the celebration of National Epilepsy Week in South Africa, and the South Cape/Karoo Branch uses the day to host its Big Walk.

This sees residents at the branch take a walk around the branch's premises in Rio Street to add their steps to the 50 Million Steps tally.

Epilepsy SA South Cape/Karoo branch director Lee-Anne van den Bergh and PRO Ashleigh Smith.

This year 21 residents took part in the Big Walk, and R14 000 was raised in donations to go towards the branch. The festivities did not stop there, however, as the residents were also treated to Valentine's Day goodies.

Still in the spirit of National Epilepsy Week, the annual candle-lighting ceremony was held on Wednesday 16 February.

This is a celebration of the strength of those who live with epilepsy, and is a reminder for them to continue letting their light shine. It is also held in remembrance of those with epilepsy whose lives were lost in the past year.

Glory Campbell (white), a development worker at the branch, leads the group on the big walk. Photos: Blake Linder