Mackay will be dressed in purple for national epilepsy day on Friday

Mackay will adopt a purple hue on Friday to raise awareness for epilepsy, a condition more than 1000 Australians are diagnosed with every month.

The national campaign for epilepsy kicked off this month with the crescendo coming on Friday.

'Make March Purple for Epilepsy' is the national campaign of Epilepsy Australia and Mackay's Joanne Scott has rallied to ensure the region will be painted purple for the event.

Ms Scott has lived with epilepsy since she was 18 months old.

"One of the biggest problems of dealing with epilepsy is that there is not enough awareness of what it is and how to handle it," she said.

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The campaign aims to raise awareness and support for the 1240 Australians who will be diagnosed with the condition in March alone.

Nite Johnston has been living with epilepsy for the past 10 years.

He had a promising start to a potential football career before he was diagnosed at age 13.

 

 

 

"I didn't stop immediately. I did my best to continue with football, after all Wally Lewis had epilepsy and he pushed through," Mr Johnston said.

"But my seizures only continued, often triggered by stress. Pre-game nerves had some people throw up before a match but I had seizures."

He stopped playing because of the heightened dangers and instead started creating and playing music under the stage name Lightning Nite.

 

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He said while epilepsy cost him a football career, caused him physical injury multiple times and disrupted his social life, he was much more than just his condition.

"I am Nite Johnston, accounting student, martial artist and aspiring musician," he said.

People can support the cause by dressing in purple and buying 'Make March Purple for Epilepsy' merchandise available at the participating venues in the region.

Merchandise will be available at the Mackay Base Hospital gift shop, West Mackay United Chemists, Home Base at Mackay Base Hospital, Coal Port Pharmacy at Hay Point Superclinic and United Chemists at Andergrove.

For more information on epilepsy, click here.

Originally published as Mackay will be dressed in purple for national epilepsy day on Friday