The Lake Albert woman was diagnosed with epilepsy during her early teens.

But a lack of medical support and information meant she suffered from depression and was extremely fearful of her epilepsy for decades.

It was only five years ago, after a new general practitioner put her in touch with the right medication and information from Epilepsy Action Australia, that Ms Waterford now feels she is no longer is afraid of her epilepsy diagnosis.

“Donating to an epilepsy charity means that other people won’t feel frightened,” she said.

Ms Waterford is now calling on the community to host morning and afternoon ‘e-teas’ to raise money for the condition during November,  which is epilepsy awareness month.

More information www.epilepsy.org.au.