THE Bolton Evening News has been awarded the British Epilepsy Association (BEA) Gold Award for Journalism 1998, in recognition for its "positive and accurate" coverage of epilepsy during the year.
And the BEN is one of just 25 newspapers - out of 2,500 throughout the UK - to have been given this prestigious award.
Chairman of the Bolton branch of the BEA, Simon Newton said: "The BEN's coverage of epilepsy issues has been both informative and accurate while maintaining a sensitive outlook.
"This can only help to educate the general public and, in turn, improve the quality of life for those in the region who live with epilepsy." There are about 420,000 people in the UK with epilepsy. However, despite being the most common neurological condition in the country, the stigma many sufferers experience is, according to the BEA, "unacceptable".
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Simon explained: "Epilepsy knows no age, racial, national or geographical boundaries and can develop at any time, often without warning.
"A diagnosis of epilepsy can be devastating not only to the patient, but their friends and family."
He said: "This is why the coverage in the BEN can only be applauded and the award is very much deserved. I would like also, on behalf of everyone connected with the Bolton branch of the BEA, thank BEN reporters, Mark Longbottom, Karen Stephen and Jennifer Bradbury for their excellent features on epilepsy."
BEA is the leading representative epilepsy organisation in the UK, helping over 50,000 people a year and improving their quality of life.
Through its Freephone Helpline 0800 30 90 30 BEA receives thousands of enquiries a year from parents, friends, employers, teachers and, of course, people with epilepsy - all wanting to know more about the condition.
Simon added: "Over 90 per cent of its income is in the form of voluntary contributions and its vital work would not be possible without the financial support of the general public."
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