Every day in the UK, three people die from epilepsy related complications.
Exeter geologist Steven Hill has spoken about losing his father to epilepsy in the hope of generating awareness of the illness.
An awareness day for the Sudden Unexpected Death with Epilepsy (SUDEP) Action charity is taking place on Thursday, October 23.
People are encouraged to post a photo of themselves on social media sites undertaking the Suck a lemon for SUDEP challenge to encourage others to follow suit, then donate £3 by texting SDAY01 £3 to 70070.
Others will be wearing orange on the awareness day and organising a fundraising organising a coffee and cake gathering.
Sudden deaths in epilepsy are not fully understood. SUDEP Action cares for those bereaved through the illness and using research and awareness we strives to get the answers that will save lives.
Since losing his dad David seven years ago, Steven Hill made it his mission to raise funds for the charity, which helped him and his mum in the wake of his death.
The 35-year-old's first venture was a trek up Mount Kilamanjaro in Tanzania, Africa for which he raised £1,600. His latest feat was the Isle of Wight Challenge, a 65 mile run around the island in 24 hours for which he has generated several more hundreds of pounds.
Steven explained that his dad, a factory hand at Marsh Barton, started suffering from epileptic fits after a work based accident in which he was electrocuted. He died six years later during a fit.
He said he wants people to understand that epilepsy can lead to death and said the charity helps fund research into complex epilepsy.
"My dad suffered from a form of complex epilepsy," Steven said. "He was on heavy medication but would sometimes have fits, generally at night time.
"It was quite frightening, he'd become unresponsive and we'd usually just have to leave him and make sure there was no way he could hit his head.
"Then the last time, he stopped breathing and I had to perform CPR but unfortunately it didn't work.
"The charity was really helpful to myself and my mum after that and I wanted to do something to help."
Steven is hoping to run the London Marathon next year in aid of the charity.
He added: "Really, we don't know how my dad died, but it was a complication during the fit.
"A lot of people think epilepsy is something you just live with, but there are unexplained deaths, and that is what the research looks into preventing."
To donate to the cause visit, www.justgiving.com/Steven-Hill6
To host an event email, info@sudep.org
