Understanding the History and Ongoing Importance of Purple Day

Observed each year on March 26, Purple Day is a global health observation day dedicated to raising awareness and promoting education about epilepsy. The initiative began in 2008 when then–3^rd grader Cassidy Megan launched the campaign, which has since grown into an internationally recognized event observed in more than 100 countries across all 7 continents. Lavender is widely associated with epilepsy awareness, and Purple Day encourages all to wear shades of purple as a visible indication of solidarity, symbolizing the broad spectrum of advocacy, education, and community support for those living with epilepsy.¹

Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada, launched Purple Day in her own community after experiencing the isolation and misunderstanding that can accompany living with epilepsy. Initially hesitant to disclose her condition to her friends and classmates, Megan was encouraged by their genuine curiosity and willingness to learn during a presentation about epilepsy at her elementary school. Inspired by this positive feedback, she proposed a dedicated day to promote open conversations about epilepsy and help those living with it feel less alone.

With support from the Epilepsy Association of the Maritimes, the first Purple Day was held on March 26, 2008, coinciding with Epilepsy Awareness month, which is observed annually during March. Purple was chosen in part because it encompasses lavender, the color associated with epilepsy awareness, while also reflecting Megan’s personal affinity for the color.²

Since its inception, Purple Day has continued to grow and evolve. Reflecting on the initiative in a piece published on The Voice for Epilepsy website, Megan wrote that she has witnessed “people from all over the world, no matter how old they are, what race or religion they are, or where they are from, coming together as one to stand together and help each other grow braver in themselves and educating the world about epilepsy.”¹

Globally, epilepsy affects more than 50 million people, with an estimated 5 million new diagnoses each year. Nearly 80% of individuals with epilepsy reside in low- and middle-income countries, and experts estimate that up to 70% could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated. People with epilepsy also face a mortality rate of 3 times higher than that of the general population. Against this backdrop, Purple Day serves as an important reminder of the ongoing need for greater awareness, edeucation, and access to care.³

With the continued push to move the field forward, clinicians are playing an increasingly important role in normalizing comprehensive epilepsy care. One expert at the forefront of those initiatives Esther Bui, MD, an epileptologist and founder of the Women’s Neurology Program at the University of Toronto, shared her perspective on how progress can be achieved.

“Advancing epilepsy awareness requires a commitment to open and honest dialogue on the needs of our unique community,” Bui told NeurologyLive®. “In speaking openly and honestly, we begin to confront stigma, dismantle commonly held myths, and bring to focus both the complexity of this condition and the remarkable resilience of those living with epilepsy.”

Bui, an established clinician within the epilepsy community, is an award-winning epilepsy specialist and has spent more then a decade in the field. Through her clinical work, advocacy, and education initiatives, she continues to expand awareness and knowledge across multiple areas of neurology, but particularly in epilepsy care.

Such efforts remain critical given the global burden of the disease. Epilepsy accounts for more than 0.5% of the global burden of disease—a measure that combines years of life lost due to premature mortality with years lived in less than full health. The condition also carries significant economic implications related to health care utilization, premature death, and lost productivity. Beyond these challenges, stigma and discrimination surrounding epilepsy persist worldwide. Misconceptions that epilepsy is incurable, contagious, or the result of morally bad behavior can isolate individuals and discourage them from seeking treatment.³

Bui also emphasized that while epilepsy can often feel isolating for patients, growing collaboration across the global epilepsy community continues to drive progress in both care and advocacy.

“Epilepsy can be a profoundly isolating experience. To know you are not alone can be the change maker for many—and you are not alone,” Bui said. “A global network of researchers, health care providers, educators, community partners, thought leaders and advocates have made improving outcomes for people with epilepsy their life’s commitment. From the diagnostic and therapeutic promise of precision medicine to the growing influence of patient-centered advocacy empowered by social media, remarkable progress is being made.”

REFERENCES
1. Megan C. Cassidy Megan Story. The Voice for Epilepsy. https://thevoiceforepilepsy.co.uk/cassidy-megan/. Accessed March 25, 2026.
2. Epilepsy Association of the Maritimes. About Purple Day. https://epilepsymaritimes.org/about-purple-day/. Accessed March 25, 2026.
3. World Health Organization. Epilepsy. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy. Accessed March 25, 2026.