Staff member raising awareness of epilepsy and SUDEP is encouraging everyone to get behind Purple Day

A member of staff at Coleg Sir Gâr has been inspiring her colleagues and students by raising awareness of a cause that tragically took the life of her own son. 

Helen Yates, who provides educational support to students at Pibwrlwyd and Ammanford campuses, is gearing up, with the support of her colleagues and students, for Purple Day, a campaign to raise awareness of epilepsy. 

A lesser-known part of epilepsy, that Helen wants to bring attention to, is ‘sudden unexpected death in epilepsy’ which is supported by SUDEP Action, the only UK charity working alongside those who have lost loved ones to an epilepsy-related death.

Helen Yates, who has given talks on the subject to three groups of art students at Pibwrlwyd and is due to offer the same to health and counselling degree students at Ammanford campus, is passionate about keeping calm around epilepsy but also raising awareness of the higher risks. “It’s something that doesn’t seem to be talked about,” she said. “The first I’d heard about it was from the first responders that attended my son’s 999 call.  There are a number of deaths per week from epilepsy and it’s most common in people under 40, the numbers are rising, and half of the deaths are thought to be preventable.”

Many students have been getting behind Purple Day and plan to have an awareness and fundraising day at Ammanford campus on its official day which is on Wednesday, March 26. 

My son, Hayden, was only 20 years-old when he fell prey to SUDEP. We never found a medication that could help his seizures, but also, he had never been told he was at risk or that SUDEP was even a thing; we aim to change that.”

The art department at Pibwrlwyd campus welcomed and facilitated learners from ILS and Fresh Start programmes who got creative and spent time making items to sell for Purple Day.  They also spent time at the college’s Cegin Sir Gâr training restaurant where they helped decorate purple-themed hand-made cakes and made purple mocktails. 

There is much activity happening around Purple Day with poster competitions, a purple walk, purple coffees and ILS students will be giving out purple hearts that carry important messages.

Helen Yates added: “My son, Hayden, was only 20 years-old when he fell prey to SUDEP, we never found a medication that could help his seizures but also, he had never been told he was at risk or that SUDEP was even a thing; we aim to change that.”

She has been working with an epilepsy nurse from Hywel Dda University Health Board on a leaflet which can be given out at the point of diagnosis. 

Helen’s talks have also helped students who don’t have epilepsy to understand how the person undergoing a seizure might feel and how to deal with it. “Students with epilepsy can often experience memory loss,” she said. “It’s important to be aware of their needs, especially in a college setting where their learning progress might be affected through no fault of their own.”

Rebecca Sellick, art and design lecturer at Coleg Sir Gâr’s Carmarthen School of Art is completely supportive of Helen, she said: “Helen’s personal story and her courage is hugely inspiring, I just can’t imagine going through what she’s gone through.

“Helen is part of our college family and that’s what we embrace at Coleg Sir Gâr and the students absolutely love her.”

Purple Day 2025 in the UK is being held  on Wednesday 26 March.