In 2019 Alfie our youngest had his first episode/seizure, it went undiagnosed as everyone in their lifetime, are allowed to have one episode/seizure without diagnosis. Skip forward to 2020, while we were all living through the collective trauma of COVID, and nearly a year to the date, he had another seizure and this time it was far worse. This started a really challenging time for all of us but more so Alfie as he was the one dealing with these traumatic situations. However, when he was diagnosed with tonic / clonic seizures in October 2020 he took it all in his stride, taking it all in and learning through each seizure. It was a huge learning curve and at times we got it wrong, but Alfie led the way on how to deal with them and how to cope day to day emotionally and physically. He is some kiddo!

With the incredible support from our family and friends along with his incredible teachers, coaches, and his school friends, he now is living a fairly normal life. The doctors and epilepsy nurses at ARI are like angels, so caring and respectful towards Alfie and his condition which at times has changed his outlook on certain things in life, like football. 

He loved his football but having the worry of a seizure or possible asthma attack (another thing he was diagnosed with through Covid) while he was on the pitch put a stop to him continuing in a sport he absolutely adored.

However, Alfie is not defined by the label of epilepsy and the stigmas attached to it. He is an incredible kid supported by so many amazing humans (young and old) around him. He is due to stand up in front of his whole school in March and give a presentation about his condition and how people can help if someone around you has one. He wants people to know the signs and how best to deal with it. 

He has also written to the Lord Provost, with support from his amazing Head teacher to ask for Marishcal College to be lit up purple on Saturday 26 March (Epilepsy Awareness Raising Day in the UK). For this reason and for the sheer determination within Alfie to not let epilepsy define him, I have decided to run every day in March to raise money for Epilepsy Scotland. 

I know times are tough but if you can donate the smallest of amounts to help raise awareness about a condition we don’t really talk about, then both Alfie and his whole family would be very grateful. 

Finally a big shout out to Alfie for being a wee champion and for taking on this Challenge with me, combined we hope to run 200k in the month of March.