National Art Contest Shares A Very Personal Experience (NAPSA)—For people living * with epilepsy, art can be a means to communicate innermost feelings about how this serious neurological condition affects their daily lives. Now in its seventh year, Expressions of Courage is a national contest that showcases such inspiration. “Every piece submitted to Expressions of Courage tells a different story, one may feature images to describe whatit feels like to have a seizure, while another demonstrates hope for a cure,” said Eric R. Hargis, president and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. “Creating these entries is a very personal experience for participants, providing a per- sonal platform for them to share what they go throughevery day.” The contest will be run from May 11, 2009 through August 28, 2009. Winning entries will be selected based on creativity and the ability to bring to life the experiences of living with epilepsy. Winners will be highlighted on the Expressions of Courage Website. A few winning pieces will also be chosen by curators from the Society for the Arts in Healthcare for display in a traveling art exhibition. For entry rules and regula- tions, you can visit expressionsof courage.com/rules/rules.html or call the Contest Help Line at (800) 224-4935. About Epilepsy Epilepsy is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system, affecting approximately Art can serve as a visual demonstration of the feelings of living with epilepsy. 50 million people worldwide. As many as 200,000 Americans are diagnosed for the first time each year. Epilepsy produces seizures, which happen whena brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. The condition can develop at any time in life, but there is a particular susceptibility in young children and the elderly. Currently, there is no cure for epilepsy; however, medications help control seizure activity in the majority of people with the condition. It is important for people with epilepsy to be proactive in working with their healthcare professionals to determine the most effective treatment plan. Expressions of Courage is a program developed and funded by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharma- ceuticals, Inc, in partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation.
