Earlier this year, the Valley Community Theatre in Liverpool launched a project on epilepsy awareness.
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Their aim was to enable young people with epilepsy to live more openly and comfortably with their condition.
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Director of the Valley Community Theatre, Martin Ball, knew of a young woman from Liverpool who died from epilepsy.
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He decided to use the story of Carolyn’s young life with epilepsy to contribute to a greater understanding of the condition and to address the stigma and embarrassment which is attached to it.
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Carolyn Sandland died from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) on 22nd October 2005, she was only 29.
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Her mother Sandra took part in the film to help raise awareness of this greatly misunderstood condition. Like many young people with epilepsy, Carolyn was embarrassed by her condition and kept it as a secret.
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Sandra and is committed to sharing Carolyn’s story to challenge the stigma that exists in society today about epilepsy and to highlight the risks associated with the condition.
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Epilepsy Bereaved Director Jane Hanna OBE said;
“Carolyn’s Secret is such an important piece of work about the life of a wonderful young woman and will serve to educate those who are not aware of the risk of SUDEP.
The cause of SUDEP awareness is one which we have been fighting for 15 years and we greatly welcome this film to assist our work further”.
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Deputy Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr. Sharon Sullivan attended the premier of Carolyn’s Secret on 20th October at the Valley Community Theatre, she said;
“More needs to be done to highlight and break down barriers when it comes to people being better informed about epilepsy.
In my role as an elected member I will be contacting the relevant authorities to showcase Carolyn’s Secret and request that this wonderful film is shown in Liverpool”
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Epilepsy is a condition that can affect anyone, at any age and at any time.
Please help us to share ‘Carolyn’s Secret’
View ‘Carolyn’s Secret’
For information or to receive a copy of Carolyn’s Secret please contact Fiona McDonald, Epilepsy Bereaved Tel; 01554 778450 / 0798 5587554 Email; fiona@eb-team.org.uk
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Epilepsy Bereaved would like to thank the following who helped to make Caroyn’s Secret;
Sandra Sandland
Voiceover – Tony Hirst
Editor – James Heaps
Music – Martin Ball
Camera – Saira Kewley
Camera – Neil Cotesworth
Technical Supervisor – Kim Hale
Co-Producer – Tara Gallacher
Director – Jarrod Egerton
Producer – Martin Ball
With Thanks To-
Erica Clarke
Kevin Donolly
Rob Thorp
Keiron O’Neil
