A Woodside park resident with epilepsy is raising awareness of the condition in time for global epilepsy day.

Tanya Spensley, 50, was diagnosed with epilepsy at 18 months old, before having her eye replaced with a prosthetic after being diagnosed with eye cancer.

Tanya’s campaign coincided with Purple Day, the global epilepsy awareness day on Sunday, 26 March, which this year focused on results of a new poll showing 47 percent of Londoners with the condition experience feelings of loneliness.

“Nobody seemed to understand my epilepsy in my childhood and always preferred to blame me for medication side-effects and seizure actions,” Tanya said.

“I am sure this feeling of isolation affected my learning skills due to a lack of self-esteem and self-confidence.”

Tanya channelled her feelings into campaigning and founded action groups to raise awareness for the condition both in the UK and abroad, before she volunteered at the London 2012 Olympics on the VIP entrance.

S Club Junior star Stacey McClean also lent a hand to the campaign due to her mother’s diagnosis.

She said: “It was heart-breaking to read just how badly epilepsy impacts on people’s feelings and self-esteem.

“Nobody, regardless of whether they have a disability or not, should have to feel this way.”

Purple Day was created by Epilepsy Action in 2008, raising awareness by lighting landmarks purple across the country.

If you have epilepsy and feel alone, call the Epilepsy Action Helpline on 0808 800 5050.