Local 16-year old Nikolaos Naz can tell you all about Purple Day, should you ask him. He and his mother Teri are Community Champions currently campaigning for the Center for Epilepsy & Seizure Education.
Purple Day is an awareness campaign that is close to their hearts. Nikolaos Naz began having seizures at the age of two.
He was diagnosed with Polymicrogyria (PMG) a developmental malformation of the human brain characterized by an excessive number of small convolutions (gyri) on the surface of the brain. Either the whole surface (generalized) or parts of the surface (focal) can be affected.
At the age of 16, with thanks to medication and the fact that he is growing up, he has been seizure free for the past two and a half years.
“It was hard to live with,” said Naz, “But you have to stay strong, and not give up.” Naz said that his doctors: Dr. Adams (Princeton) and Dr. Farrell (Children’s Hospital) along with his mom helped him to stay strong.
This is his second year of campaigning and he does so to encourage other kids to be strong, promote Epilepsy awareness and to help raise funds to send kids to summer camp, provide support services and to promote research.
On Wednesday, March 21 Naz will host a high school dance for Princeton Secondary Students. Advance tickets for $5 and $8 at the door. The dance will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Purple Cupcake Day will be held on March 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cooper’s Foods. Naz and mom Teri will be on hand selling cupcakes by donation.
Teri and Nikolaos send out a extra special thank you to Keith Olsen at Everything Pets for his tremendous support and a thank you to the following business for their generosity and support: The Source, Mac’s Auto Parts, Rootz Hair Salon, Winking Pedlar, The Loonie Bin/Bakery, A & W, Lordco, Shopper’s, Billy’s, Pizza Party, Country Kitchen, Dairy Queen, Gold and Jade, Subway and Cooper’s Foods.
On Monday, March 26, you can show your support for Purple Day for Epilepsy and for Naz by donning apparel of the colour and turning Princeton purple for a day.