WHEN Echuca's Shirley O'Bree starts something, she doesn't give up.
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It's been seven years since the Cunningham Downs resident kicked off Purple Day in Echuca-Moama, raising more than $23,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation along the way.
While she has had her fair share of setbacks, the epilepsy survivor continues to raise money for the charity close to her heart.
And this year is no different.
She will hold another Purple Day morning tea at Cunningham Downs community hall on March 26 and is hoping for another big crowd.
“It's really grown over the years,” she said.
“I started off with just a small morning tea and now we get about 100 people to the morning tea and they come from all over - Kyabram, Rochester, Seymour and Bendigo.
“Apart from the Biggest Morning Teas for cancer, mine is one of the biggest morning teas in Echuca.”
While this is her main fundraiser, Shirley has also got Echuca-Moama and Rochester schools and businesses on board.
Shirley endured regular epileptic seizures for 54 years before undergoing brain surgery in 2012, which has seen her seizure free for eight years.
She is one of an estimated 2.9 million people in Australia aged over 65 with epilepsy — a demographic group with the highest proportions of people with epilepsy.
And while raising money for the Epilepsy Foundation is crucial, raising awareness about the condition is just as important.
As such, Shirley always organises a guest to speak at the morning teas.
This year, Carolyn Lewis will discuss her teenage daughter's battle with the neurological condition.
The Lockington mother is also hoping to reduce the stigma of epilepsy, which she says is one of the things that causes her daughter Kaitlyn the most discrimination.
You can read Kaitlyn Lewis’ story in March's edition of Bella coming out soon.
Shirley said guest speakers such as Carolyn were great at helping people better understand the condition.
“A lot of people are asking questions at our morning teas and so many people are writing on the feedback forms about how much they didn't know about epilepsy and how much they had learnt from coming along,” she said.
“I'm so glad to hear people speak openly about it.”
As well as asking people to wear a touch of purple on March 26, Shirley has placed donation tins and merchandise at various food outlets, pharmacies, Echuca Workers and Services Club and Echuca-Moama Family Medical Practice.
If you are interested in attending the morning tea, which starts at 10am and includes food, drinks, entertainment and prizes, contact Shirley on 5480 6824 or 0418 505 243.
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