Recognizing November 2013 as Epilepsy Awareness Month in honor of individuals living with Epilepsy, their families and those working to improve their quality of life.

WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It's also called a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy; and

WHEREAS, A seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. 1 in 10 adults will have a seizure sometime during their life; and

WHEREAS, Epilepsy afflicts 65 million people around the world with 2 million afflicted in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder. 1 in 26 Americans will develop Epilepsy at some point in their respective lifetimes and 300,000 children under the age of 15 are affected by the illness; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 50,000 people die from Epilepsy-related causes in the U.S. each year; and

WHEREAS, One third of those suffering from Epilepsy live with uncontrollable seizures due to a lack of treatment; and

WHEREAS, The estimated annual cost of medical costs and lost or reduced earnings and production totals $15.5 billion; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that 25,350 Philadelphians and 109,000 individuals in Eastern Pennsylvania are living with Epilepsy; and

WHEREAS, The Epilepsy Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation, was founded in 1972 under the name The Epilepsy Foundation of Philadelphia. The name was revised to reflect the organization's broader service area of Eastern Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Services offered by the Foundation - most of which are free - include month Adult Support Group meetings, young adult programs aimed to foster independence and socialization skills, a weeklong overnight camp for kids, teens, and young adults known as Camp Achieve and an annual Information and Education Conference; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That November 2013 be recognized as Epilepsy Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia.

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