Max van Heerden is raising awareness for people with Epilepsy in South Africa by running a charitable fun purple walk every year
Sandown, Johannesburg – Maximilian van Heerden aka Purple Max or just Max as he likes to say is an ambassador for epilepsy in South Africa. He has a passion for raising awareness about causes that matter and has been doing so since he was 9-years-old.
He is hosting his 4th annual Epilepsy walk to raise awareness and to collect toiletries for children and adults with epilepsy and other disabilities, living in specialised homes.
Max was inspired to start his epilepsy awareness campaign because of his own mother, Tania who lives with petit mal. Petit Mal is a seizure disorder that sees seizures start on both sides of the brain. He is inspired by her and wanted to do something that would help her and anyone else living with the disorder.
By highlighting the issue, Max is able to educate more people and create a safe space for people to receive the support they need. We spoke to Tania and she confirmed that they host a support group at home with the director of epilepsy SA every few months to offer a safe place for people to talk.
This year the walk will be done in memory of a close friend that passed away in December after battling cancer, epilepsy and an enlarged heart. They will once again be collecting toiletries for the Tshimolo home, Bathabaleng home, REEA epilepsy care centre and Epilepsy SA.
The walk is free to join, all they ask is that you bring along a toiletry item and wear purple. It will be taking place on the 24th of March which is two days before International Purple Day. You can get all the information you need from the poster below.
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