By Emily-Rose Toohey
16-year-old Stanthorpe local Kiara Osborne scaled the Story Bridge in Brisbane last Friday night as it lit up purple for epilepsy awareness.
Kiara said she signed up to the Epilepsy Queensland Story Bridge Climb challenge after being diagnosed with epilepsy last year.
“In April 2021, I had my first seizure,” she said.
“It came as a real shock to my family – it was extremely out of the blue, we were unsure of what was causing my seizures or what to expect.”
Kiara was formally diagnosed with epilepsy in July 2021 and was prescribed anti-seizure medication, where she had to trial multiple medications to help control her seizures.
Despite still adjusting to the challenges of epilepsy, Kiara said she remains positive and wants to help raise funds and awareness to help others.
“Whilst my story has a good outcome, for many people it doesn’t, because around half of people diagnosed struggle to find the reason for their seizures,” she said.
“I not only want to raise funds to help those who are struggling, but to also raise awareness.”
Kiara is now 6 months seizure free, and due to the Stanthorpe community, her family, and her friends, Kiara was able to raise over $2500 in less than a month.
“I think it’s really important to raise awareness for epilepsy, as people don’t know enough about it and how common it is,” she said.
“It should be something we talk about more often.”
On the day of the climb, Kiara said the weather was not in their favour.
“It was good while it lasted, but we were rained on, but the experience was amazing,” she said.
“The views from the bridge, despite it being cloudy, were absolutely spectacular – it was like the icing on the cake when it lit up purple.”
Kiara said that 18 other people participated in the climb, and they were split into two groups.
“I was in the first group and I met some amazing people who I talked to before, during, and after the climb,” she said.
Aside from raising money and awareness for epilepsy, Kiara said the climb seemed like a once in a lifetime thing to do.
“I had always thought it would be something fun to do with friends and family,” she said.
Epilepsy Queensland chief executive Chris Dougherty said the funds raised are to help provide free education and workshops for families like Kiara’s.
“It’s about helping them to understand their epilepsy and giving carers the skills and confidence to administer rescue medication, which can be lifesaving,” he said.
World Purple Day was on Saturday 26 March, and due to the poor weather at the Story Bridge climb, Kiara said they will be completing it again on a to be determined date.
