Raising awareness of epilepsy at local event

Buy photos » Ryan Sahota (left) with big brother Manpreet and their mother Harj. 14.012.045.leam.nc1 www.buyphotos247.com

SEEING his younger brother affected by severe epilepsy has prompted a Leamington man to raise awareness of the disorder.

Ryan Sahota was diagnosed with epilepsy ten years ago after suffering a fit and his condition is so severe that the seizures he has roughly once a week can leave him needing hospital treatment.

The 17-year-old now lives and studies at St Elizabeth’s School, a specialist centre in Hertfordshire, while making regular trips home.

His brother Manpreet, 20, has organised a family fun day at Myton School – where Ryan attended until his condition worsened in year nine – for Saturday May 12, featuring a fund-raising football match, face painting and various stalls and refreshments.

It is the second time he has held a fund-raiser there, last year in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s High Dependency Unit, and this year in aid of Warwick Hospital's MacGregor Ward, both of which have treated Ryan.

Manpreet told the paper: “We really want to raise awareness of epilepsy, how people can help a sufferer if they have a fit and how the disorder is treated generally.

“It could happen to anyone. Sometimes Ryan has a seizure in the street but people just drive on by because they don't know what to do.

“Ryan is a really popular and intelligent lad so its such a shame he suffers with this, but we cope together as a family.”

Manpreet lives in Maple Road with their mother Harj, a single parent.

She said: “Manpreet has been a God send through all of this, a real father figure to Ryan and has helped us cope with a confusing situation.

“We live day to day and we hope to speak to people at the event about epilepsy and help them out if they have any questions.”

Email Manpreet Sahota at sahota_mamps@hotmail.com or call 07557 301188 for more information on the event, which will run from noon to 3pm.

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