30 October 2009
MEDIA ADVISORY NOTE
Wally Lewis continues to bring epilepsy out of the shadows
Epilepsy Queensland proudly announces that Wally Lewis has accepted the
honour of being the organisation’s Patron. Following the successful
release of his book Out of the Shadows, Wally has become a great
ambassador for Epilepsy Queensland and an advocate for people living
with epilepsy.
Chief Executive Officer of Epilepsy Queensland, Helen Whitehead, said
“Wally has demonstrated considerable courage in stepping out of the
shadows to share his story. He’s given hope to many people with
epilepsy and inspired them to talk about their epilepsy, when in some
cases they’d been hiding it for a lifetime.
“Wally is a great ambassador for our cause; a hero on and off the field.
He is a generous man who has positively touched the lives of many
struggling with the challenges of epilepsy. He has already made a
significant contribution for which we will always be grateful. The
flame, our logo that symbolises enlightenment, burns brighter in Wally’s
presence”, she said.
Wally was the keynote speaker at a breakfast on Thursday in Canberra for
the Parliamentary Friends of Epilepsy who are conducting an inquiry into
the impact of epilepsy in Australia.
Epilepsy directly affects around 2% of the population and still remains
one of the most misunderstood conditions in today’s society. More than
86,000 Queenslanders have epilepsy with the majority of epilepsies first
occurring in children. The next peak time for diagnosis is in the
elderly. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is
doubtful there is any other medical condition so universally neglected
due to a combination of social stigma, low profile and lack of
resources. WHO recognises epilepsy as the world’s most common serious
brain disorder.
For 40 years Epilepsy Queensland has been assisting Queensland families
who have been touched by epilepsy. Services include education,
counselling, information services, children’s and family support
programs, specialised training programs, support groups and advocacy.
Contact:
Helen Whitehead – Chief Executive Officer – 07 3435 5000 - 0400 578 898
hwhitehead@epilepsyqueensland.com.au
Leigh Gilbert – Fundraising Manager – 07 3435 5000 - 0417 645 027
lgilbert@epilepsyqueensland.com.au
NEWS 
