On Purple Day (26 March), Naomi will be walking 26 miles past 26 churches to raise money and awareness for Epilepsy Scotland.

Naomi shares why she is taking on this challenge and her own personal experience of living with epilepsy.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy in my early twenties. I had a seizure at home out of the blue.

Before this, I had never experienced anything like it, I was taken to hospital and referred to Neurology. While waiting on an initial appointment I experienced another seizure, which then led to multiple tests and finally a diagnosis of epilepsy.

When I was first diagnosed, I remember feeling very confused, I couldn’t understand how these seizures could just happen with no warning as such.

While I was trialling different medications and doses I felt so alone and that we were never going to get the correct combination to help me.

I didn’t know anything about epilepsy, so I wasn’t sure what was happening or what the future might look like for me.

I have both absence and tonic-clonic seizures and can lose anything from half an hour to more than a few hours at a time. Also, I have no recollection of anything that’s been going on around me. Afterwards, all I can do is sleep, it can be horrible.

Impact on my life

It’s a condition that has affected everything. I became very withdrawn for a long time because I never knew when a seizure might occur, and the side effects of medication made me seem like I was constantly drunk. I always felt a sense of embarrassment.

When the time came to become a mum, pregnancy was very difficult. There was always the guilt to deal with if I had a seizure even though everything was fine and when my children were small, I felt like I just wasn’t good enough.

I was scared to hold my children in case of a seizure and I hurt them.

The biggest impact was losing my driving license, I felt like I had lost my independence.

It has caused some of the hardest times in my life, I’ve lost jobs, I’ve had to give up hobbies and I’ve lost friends, but I’ve become a stronger person and gained so much more.

Fundraising for Epilepsy Scotland

I have been fundraising for Epilepsy Scotland for several years now and raised fantastic amounts totalling in the thousands.

Epilepsy Scotland wouldn’t be able to continue the work it does without people fundraising.

If I can help by raising some funds, so that Epilepsy Scotland can help more people, the way it has helped me then I’m more than happy to do what I can.

After I was diagnosed with epilepsy, I ended up feeling so low. I came across the Helpline, just to talk to someone who understood, felt like a weight had been lifted.

They gave me the information I needed to know about epilepsy and made me realise that I can deal with it and that although I have this condition, I’m still me and I am good enough.

26 mile Purple Day challenge

I have recently moved churches to be nearer home and that gave me the idea that on Purple Day I’m going to walk 26 miles beginning at my previous church Old Calton Parish Church and finishing at my new church Moncreiff Parish Church.

In keeping with the theme of 26, I am going to pass 26 churches on route. I have little chocolates to give out along with some information on epilepsy to help spread some awareness.

I’ve done different challenges throughout the years, so this is something a bit different.

I still feel like there is so much about epilepsy that people don’t know. I didn’t know anything about it before I was diagnosed.

If my family and I did know more then it would have helped us cope better. So, awareness days like Purple Day can only be a good thing, and it gives us an excuse to have some fun raising awareness.

Everything might seem bleak and confusing right now but there are lots of people that can help, and you can get the light back again. Keep being the strong person you are!

We would love people to pop out and support Naomi as she takes on this incredible challenge. Naomi will set off at 9.15am at Old Calton Parish Church. The complete route can be found here.

We need to raise £700,000 each year to continue to provide vital services, information and support that helps people like Naomi cope with a new diagnosis of epilepsy.

Please consider making a difference by fundraising for Epilepsy Scotland. For more information on how you can fundraise, please click here.