A group of people with epilepsy have climbed ‘Big Ben’ for the first time to celebrate Purple Day 2012, after declaring that they have epilepsy.
Until recently people with epilepsy were not allowed to take the tour, even though they are not at greater risk of accident or injury than in any other situation.
The 13 people, the first official tour for people with epilepsy, climbed the 334 spiral steps up the Clock Tower of Big Ben just after it struck nine this morning. Katherine Ford, Andrew Hackett and Sol Nicholson climbed to the top of the 150 year-old Clock Tower on behalf of Epilepsy Action.
They were joined by Epilepsy Action Vice-President Paul Maynard MP, and Laura Sandys MP, who both have epilepsy themselves. After the descent, Valerie Vaz MP and Grahame Morris MP joined the group to show their purple support.
Previous guidance placed epilepsy among a list of health conditions that prevented a visitor from taking part in the tours. After Epilepsy Action brought this to the attention of the Safety, Health and Wellbeing team at Westminster, the policy was revised.
Pete Scott, campaigns and policy officer at Epilepsy Action, said: “This was a form of discrimination. It is important that the government gets its equality policies right and leads by example, if it expects others to follow. The Purple Day climb is a great way to raise awareness of epilepsy and celebrate the fact that people with the condition can now climb the Clock Tower.“
Purple day began back in 2008 and has since become the international day for epilepsy awareness. Founded in Canada by Cassidy Megan, Purple Day is celebrated throughout the world and strives to raise awareness of, and dispel the myths associated with epilepsy.