The Peterborough Indian Punjabi Association (PIPA) completed an epilepsy awareness walk on the 20th of September, raising nearly £1,000 for Epilepsy Action.
The group walked around 5-6 miles around their local area in Epilepsy Action T-shirts, “bringing the community together around a shared purpose”.
Sukhvinder Singh, a member of PIPA, said: “The group was originally formed by members of Peterborough’s Sikh community, but it has since grown to welcome people from across the wider Indian and Punjabi community.
“Our aim is to bring people together, promote unity and create opportunities for everyone to support worthwhile causes.
“We chose Epilepsy Action because epilepsy is still widely misunderstood, particularly within parts of the Punjabi community.
“We also have a personal connection through a member of our community who lives with the condition.
“Supporting Epilepsy Action gives us an opportunity to help people affected by epilepsy while challenging the stigma surrounding it.”
PIPA awareness walk making a difference
Philippa Cartwright, director of Fundraising at Epilepsy Action, added: “We’re delighted to see PIPA’s charity walk return in support of Epilepsy Action, and we’re incredibly grateful for the association’s continued support.
“Events like this are about so much more than fundraising. They bring local communities together, help people learn more about epilepsy and shine a light on a condition that is still widely misunderstood.
“We provide a range of support, including our Epilepsy Action Support Line, support groups and one-to-one Peer Support – services that many people in our community describe as a lifeline.
“The support of fundraisers like PIPA helps us keep these vital services available to the people who need them.”
PIPA’s walk was also mentioned on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Monday 21 September, featuring a few words by organiser Rabinder Singh-Kalra.
Sukhvinder added: “We want people to understand that epilepsy is not a weakness and that nobody should feel ashamed of having the condition.
“Most importantly, we want anyone affected by epilepsy to know that they are not alone and that their community is there to support them.”
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