To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the French Foundation for Epilepsy Research (FFRE) is organizing various activities, particularly cultural ones, to re-engage public opinion and the media on the issue of epilepsy.
This illness and those who suffer from it are rarely covered in the media, making them subjects of numerous stereotypes; hence, they need a new spotlight.
This cause is particularly close to our hearts because the consequences for patients in their everyday lives are extremely significant: exclusion, silence, revolt.
Especially when we know that 500,000 people suffer from epilepsy today in France, including 90,000 children and adolescents and 150,000 patients resistant to treatments.
On the occasion of this anniversary year, the FFRE will be present at the 107th notary congress in Cannes, which will take place from June 5 to 8, 2011:
Event: Book signing sessions by Christian Rauth
Times: Monday, June 6 starting at 5 PM (followed by a cocktail) & Tuesday, June 7 starting at 4:30 PM
For your information, other actions are taking place alongside this event:
-A poster campaign in major French cities
-A theater festival during which actors and directors will develop work around one topic: epilepsy. Participants will be invited to express in their creations the feelings of thousands of patients: rejection, silence, commitment…
A jury of professionals chaired by Robert Hossein will select the winner in October during a Gala evening.
An opportunity for artists to make themselves known and for patients to better communicate their daily reality.
The broader media coverage of the FFRE’s actions would undoubtedly allow:
-To engage the public on this issue
-To dispel the stereotypes surrounding this illness
-To counteract the exclusion phenomenon suffered by patients (like children, for example, who are too often removed from school in favor of unjustified placement in specialized institutions)
-To raise funds to continue research.
