On March 26th, people around the world will come together to recognize Purple Day, an international effort to promote epilepsy awareness.
Last year, this grassroots movement was celebrated in more than 85 countries on all continents.
The day has a personal meaning to many local residents, including Marc Hartenberg, who has lived with epilepsy since he was a kid.
The Netherlands native, who has lived in Canada since 1982, says his epilepsy was caused by a bike accident he had when he was just nine years old.
Hartenberg has had to make a few adjustments in his life over the years, but one of the biggest is not being able to have a driver’s license. Thanks to the great staff at Pizza Hut though, where he is the Customer Relations and Marketing Director, he’s able to get around without much issue.
The father of three says, although he does have to be mindful about his epilepsy, he doesn’t let it affect how he lives his life.
Aside from encouraging everyone in our community to wear purple on March 26th, to promote epilepsy awareness, Hartenberg says that his five Pizza Hut locations will also be donating proceeds from their sales that day to Epilepsy Peterborough.
Canada is the only country to officially recognize March 26th as Purple Day, through the Purple Day Act of June 28, 2012.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
