Together For Mariam

Mariam was a kind, charismatic and a caring role model for young people. Selfless, she would always put the needs of others before herself. She touched the hearts of everyone with her generosity of spirit and was a beam of light in everyone’s lives.

Mariam died from a tragic accident on the London Underground as a result of a tonic-clonic epileptic seizure.

She was 19 years old, was completing her studies of Medicine at UCL, she was in the prime of her life.

A beloved daughter and sister to her two brothers, Mariam developed epilepsy just before her 15th birthday when she started experiencing absence seizures. Her first seizure was in school during her mock exams. She kept an avid record of her seizures as she began a journey with her family to tackle her condition. A few months before Mariam passed away Mariam had four to five tonic-clonic seizures in a week. She was under specialist care and prescribed various combinations of anti-epileptic drugs. Her last seizure was fatal, occurring as Mariam was waiting on an underground platform. She collapsed into the pathway of an oncoming train.

Mariam was in her second year at University studying Applied Medical Science. She was hoping to pursue a career as a Professor in scientific research to identify treatments and prevention pathways for rare diseases. To this endeavour she published an academic paper on: The Role of Endogenous Bromotyrosine in Health and Disease at UCL during her first year.

Alongside her studies Mariam volunteered one day a week as an Active sports coach working with autistic teenagers. She also completed several half marathons for various charities, including MND and Epilpesy Society

Mariam gained much support from the Epilepsy Society. She was eager to explore how the condition can be better diagnosed amongst patients, and consequently treated. She also benefitted from the guidance of information produced to support people with epilepsy.

Mariam began to realise how challenging this condition was to live with. She started her own research into Epilepsy to search for treatment methods and hopefully one day, a cure. 

We cannot bring Mariam back but we will do everything we can to raise awareness of how Epilepsy impacts personal safety and how everyday environments can present a risk to lives. We recognise the vital research carried out by the Epilepsy Society who are seeking to find a cure. They strive to develop a greater understanding of the risks people like Mariam face in their daily lives and we hope you can help them achieve this goal.

So far 'Together for Mariam' have raised over £10,000 for epilepsy charities. If you would like to support them please visit their fundraising page: 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/together-for-mariam