12 year old boy from Surrey nominated for diversity award

A 12 year old boy from Surrey has been nominated for a national award.

"I wanted to show people that I'm ok"

Zac Knight, who's from Smallfield in Surrey, has been shortlisted for the Positive Role Model Award for Age at the National Diversity Awards.

Zac has epilepsy and has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of his condition - including running a mile for every year of his age on many of his birthdays to raise money for the charity Young Epilepsy, and has done an assembly at his school to discuss his condition.

Zac explained why he wanted to raise awareness of epilepsy: "I wanted to show people that I'm ok, and they don't have to be sorry for me or think that I can't do the things I want to do and like to do."

Zac's dad, James Knight, said: "Over time as we got to know more about what epilepsy's about - we felt it was important to help Zac to raise awareness and help people to understand what it is he and many other adults and children go through everyday."

The awards take place on the 15th September.

What is Young Epilepsy?

Young Epilepsy supports children and young people across the UK through online and outreach services, campaigning and policy work and information services.   

There are over 100,000 children and young people in the UK living with epilepsy. Epilepsy is one of the most common long-term conditions that affects children.   

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that disrupts the normal electrical activity our brains use to communicate with the rest of the body. This disruption causes seizures.   

There are over 40 different types of seizure and every young person’s epilepsy is unique to them. In order to be diagnosed with epilepsy, a young person must have had at least two seizures.   

In most cases, epilepsy is well managed, and seizures are controlled, but it is a very serious condition and can be life-threatening.

Click here to find help and resources available on their website

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