In 2019, one month before her wedding, my sister Lucy's world was turned upside down after she was admitted to Hospital following 3 tonic-clonic seizures. After 20 years of complex partial and absent seizures which were dismissed by healthcare professionals she was finally given a diagnosis of Epilepsy.

Lucy is a midwife and has always done her utmost to care for others and do her best and upon receiving such a life-altering diagnosis, it completely changed her life. Suddenly she was unable to do many daily tasks that we normally take for granted including driving and taking baths, leaving her feeling as though her independence was completely lost. She has also had to deal with multiple medications at high doses with unbelievably challenging side effects to try and combat her complex partial seizures, unfortunately with little success.

Throughout this journey from diagnosis to present day, I have been by Lucy's side and offered a shoulder to cry on when things get tough. A diagnosis of Epilepsy was widely unknown to me before Lucy received hers and it can be scary when you don't know how to help. You never think that your family member will go through something so hard and, although some days are harder than others, wake up each day trying to get on with it - Lucy is an inspiration and I am so proud to call her my sister. The Epilepsy society has provided not only Lucy, but thousands of others physical and emotional support that enable those living with the condition to live life to the fullest. From access to work rights information, prescription exceptions, community and family support groups and crisis telephone lifelines; the Epilepsy Society is there to make any aspect of life that bit easier. For Lucy, without their support would not have been able to remain working full-time as a Midwife which has allowed her to preserve some independence and give her a focus to maintain her mental health. The charity has also allowed her to connect and share her experiences with other people living with Epilepsy, providing her with comfort from others who know first hand what she is experiencing.

As a Research Practitioner, I know the importance of funding research in conditions with unmet medical needs. The Epilepsy Society is the UK's leading charity for Epilepsy and support and fund vital research. Epilepsy presents differently in different individuals, the symptoms and experiences can vary widely. The Epilepsy Society's overall aim to spearhead personalised treatment and to incorporate genomic diagnosis into the NHS for people with epilepsy. They conduct cutting edge research at the Chalfont Centre which brings together a top multidisciplinary team to contribute to a wide ranging spectrum of research. Research funding falls under genomics (testing if specific genes are associated with Epilepsy), neuroimaging (using scans and images to earlier diagnose), neuropsychology (understanding the relationship between the brain and human behaviour) and neuropathology (looking at the brain tissue for structural causes of Epilepsy). This vital research is done to help improve the lives of those living with Epilepsy but cannot be done without funding - which is why we need your help!

I'm running in the 2022 TCS London Marathon as part of Epilepsy Society's Team Purple with my sister Lucy, and we would absolutely love it if you would kindly donate as little or as much as you can to help fund such a phenomenal charity!

Thank you SO, SO much!

- Rachel & Lucy