COMPARING THE social stigma of epilepsy facing Arbroath mother, Betty Edwards and her son a decade ago with professional footballer Alen Orman’s own experiences in 2003 has netted Courier writer Dawn Donaghey the Epilepsy Scotland Journalist of the Year Award.

Dawn will accept her trophy at a presentation in the Roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh, tonight.

Now in its fifth year, Epilepsy Scotland’s award is given to journalists whose responsible writing in the Scottish Press both highlights the social stigma of epilepsy and helps to raise public awareness about the world’s most misunderstood brain disorder.

When told that the judges had selected her article, featured in The Courier last May, Dawn, who now works for The Sunday Post, said, “I wanted to show that misconceptions about epilepsy are all too real—and needn’t exist in this day and age. I am thrilled this article won the award.”

The feature, one of 18 short-listed, was selected by judges because it challenged the myths that prevail about epilepsy. Panellist Louise Welsh said, “This article addressed prejudice and the lack of public awareness, funding and facilities for epilepsy.

“Quotes by Betty Edwards illustrate how society has looked the other way and preferred not to talk about epilepsy—this is really shocking.”