Household names from entertainment and sport, as well as keynote bloggers in the epilepsy community are backing the #explainepilepsy campaign, in partnership with clothing retailer River Island.
The #explainepilepsy hashtag, launched by Young Epilepsy and Epilepsy Society, in partnership with High Street retailer River Island, is designed to encourage the public to talk about the neurological condition that affects 600,000 in the UK (112,000 of which are under 25). This coincides with National Epilepsy Week (14-20 May).
Among those backing #explainepilepsy include: Amazon and History channels’ Vikings actress Jennie Jacques; S Club Junior Stacey McClean; BBC Three’s Him and Her star (and sister of comedian Russell Howard) Kerry Howard; Cambridge United FC captain Leon Legge; Hollywood scriptwriter and director Georgina Higgins; Friend Finder founder Lewis Hine (whose epilepsy story grabbed the attention of Sir Elton John in March); and model and DJ Chelsea Leyland. Epilepsy bloggers include: Katy Mann and Olivia Salvati.
These household names have created videos to explain why they’re backing the cause.
The names mentioned above (apart from Chelsea Leyland) took part in the Roundtable event hosted by River Island.
This was presented by BBC producer Colin Grant, who wrote the book A Smell of Burning: The Story of Epilepsy, after his brother died from SUDEP.
View the #explainepilepsy Twitter feed here.
As part of launch, Young Epilepsy and Epilepsy Society did a YouGov survey which showed how people lack the understanding of epilepsy.