Doodle the day away to support people with epilepsy
Creative churches and community groups are being urged to put pen to paper and raise money for people with epilepsy. Epilepsy Action’s National Doodle Day is on Friday 5 February. It is the perfect opportunity for people to get their creative juices flowing, while raising money to support people affected by epilepsy all over the UK.
National Doodle Day is the annual fundraiser for epilepsy that gets the nation squiggling. Epilepsy Action is encouraging doodlers all over the country to ‘do a doodle and donate’. They will be joining a host of celebrities who have already doodled their support. This year’s famous doodlers include actresses Oliva Coleman and Miriam Margoyles, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and YouTuber Caspar Lee. All the celebrity scribbles will feature in a three-day eBay auction, starting on National Doodle Day.
Once people have doodled, they can donate online at doodle-day.epilepsy.org.uk , or text DOODLE to 70300 (texts will cost £3 plus standard message charge). The charity is encouraging people to share selfies of them with their doodle, and even nominate friends and family to take part on social media.
An Epilepsy Action survey revealed that 88 per cent of people with epilepsy worry about having a seizure when they are in public. This is partly because they are concerned that members of the public will not know what to do. National Doodle Day is a brilliant way to start a conversation about epilepsy.
Luke, aged 12, from Belfast, said: “Talking to my friends about epilepsy has been really helpful. They have embraced my story and boosted my confidence. It is great to know that they will be able to help me if I have a seizure. It makes me feel loads more safe at school and it really helps me to feel part of the school community.”
Holly Rawlings, doodler in residence at Epilepsy Action, said: “Doodling is brilliant fun, and a fantastic way to talk about epilepsy while raising fund to support those affected by the condition. Every year we are overwhelmed with doodle-tastic support from schools, community groups and celebrities alike.
“Spending just a few minutes of your day to get creative really will make all the difference to people affected by epilepsy and their families. Absolutely anyone can take part so please round up your classmates, teachers, family and friends and get doodling! We’d love for you to help us draw a line through epilepsy.”
People can visit nationaldoodleday.org.uk to find all the information they need about National Doodle Day. The eBay auction of celebrity doodles will run from Friday 5 February to Sunday 7 February.
Epilepsy affects around one in every 100 people in the UK alone and 87 people are diagnosed with the condition every day. Each year Epilepsy Action directly helps around one million people through a range of services, including its Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050, branch network, specialist nurse scheme and award-winning website, epilepsy.org.uk
Hattie Hodgson-Crome
