Feature Article: PURPLE DAY®: Read all about the most important, inspiring, influential (and fun) global day for epilepsy which is now on its 16th year!
Purple Day® is an iconic grassroots movement that was started in Canada by an amazing little 9-year-old girl named Cassidy Megan whose favorite color was PURPLE and who was living with epilepsy. She wanted to promote global awareness about epilepsy, bring it out of the shadows, and create a community movement. In order to achieve this, on March 26, 2008, she held the first ever Purple Day with the invaluable assistance of the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia.
And as people like to say, “the rest is history!” Now Purple Day® continues its exceptional work combating stigma, advocating for the epilepsy community, bringing the world together with Cassidy Megan still at the forefront and with the help of many Ambassadors and epilepsy organizations around the world. Purple Day® can and should really be celebrated all 365 days of the year (and that is the newest Purple Day® initiative), but March 26 is when it really shifts into high gear. Check out some of the fantastic Purple Day® celebrations from past years and the amazing people that have lent this wonderful day their voices and their platforms. We are highlighting only a few events from these past years but rest assured, every year, Purple Day® has wowed the world with the most creative and exceptional epilepsy awareness ideas.
In 2009 with the help of the Anita Kaufman Foundation in the USA and the Epilepsy Foundation of Nova Scotia, Purple Day® was launched as an international day. In 2009, the Purple Day® was held at the Sony Plaza Atrium featuring a fashion show to raise funds and awareness and to support the Anita Kaufman 5th grade Epilepsy Education Program. The show highlighted 60 purple outfits that were created by famous designers, including, to name just a couple, MaxMara and Elie Tahari. Over the years, schools, businesses, politicians and celebrities joined in to lend it greater support and visibility.
In 2011, the Anita Kaufman Foundation worked with Buddy Valastro of Carlo’s Bake Shop, (a.k.a. “The Cake Boss”) hosting “Cupcakes with Buddy.” This charity event featured the Cake Boss’ delectable purple creations and many more from 13 other local bakeries (Carousel Cakes, Cookie Party, The Cupcake Corral, Fairway Market, Gigi’s Cupcakes, Just D’sserts by Sparkle, Magnolia Bakery, Mr. Cupcakes, Tate’s Bake Shop, Tonnie’s Minis, The Stuffed Cupcakes Place, Whole Foods Market and The House of Cupcakes. Here are some NEREG pictures of that awesome day: https://epilepsygroup.com/events_gallery_detail6-22-27/purple-day-cupcakes-with-buddy.htm
And on 2012, the NEREG offices invited staff to do a mini replication of this by bringing in purple cupcakes (https://epilepsygroup.com/events_gallery_detail6-22-53/epilepsy-day-new-york-and-new-jersey.htm)
Fast forward to 2017 when Purple Day® was celebrated at the Time 100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Among the audience members were Viola Davis and Leslie Jones. Also in 2017, the Anita Kaufman Foundation Purple Day® outdid itself by achieving a Guiness World Record for offering the largest ever epilepsy training session!
After some of these astounding events, what more is there left to do? A few years ago, Purple Day® launched into outer space on the International Space Station! Astronaut Ricky Arnold, who has a family member with epilepsy, began celebrating Purple Day® with his crew mates in outer space and continues to do it every year! Check out this video-it’ll give you goosebumps! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ABiD5oA6gk
Now for five years running, Purple Day® has been celebrated at Disney in Florida (organized by the Anita Kaufman Foundation and the Epilepsy Association of Central Florida). Read on to see what the 2024 Purple Day® program is going to look like (it is being held on March 23):
8:00 AM: check-in
8:10-9:40AM: Breakfast buffet
9:45-12: Main Program starts with welcoming words from Debra Josephs, The Anita Kaufmann Foundation
David Manchon, The Epilepsy Association of Central Florida
and then continues with:
• Julie Hutchison, President, Co-Founder and Chelsea's Mother
The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation: Monitors and Programs Offered
• CURE Epilepsy: Brandon Laughlin, Sr. Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach (MSE):
The Evolving, Yet Essential Role of those Living with Epilepsy in Research
• Mary Duffy, Executive Director of the Danny Did Foundation
Protecting People with Epilepsy
• Keynote Session
The Care Giver series with Greg Grunberg presents: The Importance of Self-Care
• Brigid Baffico, Advocate of Epilepsy Education
Taking Epilepsy to School
• Christina SanInocencio, PhD, CPH, CNP
The Rare Epilepsies: Not So Rare
• Mariah Mayhugh
performing her original song, “Broken Glass”
• McKinley Sommer
The Purple Cupcake Project
• Purple Costume Contest
Unleash your creativity and join the Purple Costume Contest! Whether you're donning a lavender cape or rocking grape-hued accessories, showcase your purple pride for a chance to win a CASH prize.
12;00-12:30 PM: Meet Greg Grunberg for Photos
12:00-4:00 PM Expo Open Hall
2:00-3:30: Meet, Greet, and Photo with Mickey & Minnie: Make your day even more magical by meeting the iconic duo, Mickey & Minnie. Capture unforgettable moments and create memories that will last a lifetime.
2:45 PM: Showing of the short film: “Under The Lights”
One thing we can be sure of is that Purple Day® has become the most inspiring and popular epilepsy awareness day throughout the world and we can thank Cassidy Megan and the Debbie Josephs and the Anita Kaufman Foundation for this! And we are confident that we can expect that Purple Day® will only continue to grow as more of the epilepsy community members lend it energy, ingenuity and courage. Now we invite you to continue with the next article in which Debbie Josephs, our March 2024 Epilepsy Star tells us about herself and her life’s mission.
