If I Can,
You Can
Following on from Purple Day, If I Can, You Can is a campaign all about the power of sharing stories to help more people understand what living with epilepsy really means.
We are the Epilepsy Society. The UK’s only charity transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.
Help support everyone affected by epilepsy
What we do
Cutting edge research
Epilepsy Society is unique in bringing together experts from around the world to form a powerhouse multidisciplinary team who contribute to a wide ranging spectrum of research.
Advocacy
We are a voice for people with epilepsy, striving to push epilepsy up the political agenda and bring about change at government level.
Leading care provider
Our range of care is tailored to the needs of each individual, and our professional staff are committed to maximising the life potential of everyone within our care homes.
Epilepsy support
Our confidential epilepsy helpline and online information provide support to people who are affected by epilepsy.
Our research
Genomics
Read how we are working to understand the genetic architecture of each individual person's epilepsy through our world leading genomics research programme.
Research
The ultimate goals of our current research are to spearhead personalised treatment and to incorporate genomic diagnosis into the NHS for people with epilepsy.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)
Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is an area of clinical chemistry that specialises in measuring medication levels (concentrations) in patients, usually through blood samples but also through saliva samples.
Sodium valproate
Sodium valproate is an epilepsy medication prescribed for all seizure types including absence, myoclonus and tonic clonic seizures. New regulations have been introduced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) around the way in which the drug, sodium valproate is prescribed. Find out about the changes and how they might affect you.
Latest news
If I Can, You Can – raising awareness on Purple Day
Epilepsy Society launched If I Can, You Can this Purple Day, 26 March 2026. The campaign is all about shining a light on the power of sharing stories, starting conversations, and helping more people understand what living with epilepsy really means. We are asking people to share their own experiences to demonstrate how epilepsy affects someone so individually but also to encourage more awareness and understanding of the condition.
Scientists discover new gene linked to drug-resistant epilepsy
Research identifies a gene linked to focal cortical dysplasia, a common cause of drug-resistant epilepsy.
Epilepsy Society welcomes new medication for Dravet syndrome
The Epilepsy Society has welcomed a new experimental treatment for children with Dravet syndrome which researchers say is safe and can help reduce seizures dramatically.
How climate change may impact some genetic diseases, including certain types of epilepsy
As climate change results in more frequent and intense heat waves, new research at the Epilepsy Society suggests that rising temperatures could have unexpected effects on human health — particularly for people with certain rare genetic conditions including some epilepsies.
Invite your MP to learn epilepsy first aid for Purple Day
On Wednesday 25 March, Epilepsy Society is holding a parliamentary drop-in session for all members of parliament to learn seizure first aid, ahead of Purple Day. We need your help to make sure that all 650 MPs come and visit us.
Keeping advertisers on the right track for people with photosensitive epilepsy
The latest news article from The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) and Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) outlines how they protect members of the public with photosensitive epilepsy (PSE) from adverts containing visual effects or techniques which could adversely affect them.
1,200 die every year in the UK from epilepsy related deaths
Personal stories
Eamonn's story
Eamonn is a restaurant and bar manager and he was diagnosed with epilepsy aged 18.
Becca's story
Sweet Success! How Becca and the amazing team at Gemini Chocolate raised an incredible £1,000 for the Epilepsy Society.
Ben's story
subtitle: How running became part of my life
When Ben was first diagnosed with epilepsy at 20, he tried to keep it hidden — from his parents, friends, even himself. Then, he realised how important it is to speak up.
" They couldn't understand why going out into the sunlight would bring on seizures - until our genetic testing revealed the cause of Daniel's epilepsy. "
Genetic testing could mean a new world of personalised treatment that transforms lives. By understanding more about each person’s genes, we will understand more about their epilepsy and how to treat it.
