MEMBERS of the newly formed Tavistock branch of Epilepsy Action are welcoming people with the condition to come along and join their group ? they meet at Kingdon House in Pym Street on the first Saturday of every month, between 3.30pm and 5.30pm. Epilepsy affects one in every 131 people and 456,000 people in this country of all ages suffer the condition. There are about 40 identified types of seizure and everyone living with the condition has individual needs for explanation, support and advice at different times of their life. Epilepsy is a physical condition that starts in the brain. It is a symptom that the way a person?s brain works is sometimes disrupted. When this happens, a person may suddenly have a seizure. Many people will have a single seizure at some time in their lives, but this does not mean that they have epilepsy. If a person has epilepsy it means they have had more than one seizure that began in the brain. Anyone can develop epilepsy ? it occurs in all ages, races and social classes. The reasons why some people develop it are not straightforward and there are many possible causes. Whatever the reason, a person?s seizure threshold will play a key role. Alister Holmes, a spokesman for the Tavistock branch, who suffers from the condition, said: ?The group is there to help those with epilepsy, their carers and their families. ?It is very much informal where people can come in for tea and coffee and chat about their problems with those with the same condition, and exchange information.? In Tavistock, Taz Enright is the group?s chair, Tracey Deacon, the treasurer and Sharon Holmes, the secretary. The branch also has a social side and is putting on a winter ball at Tavistock Town Hall in November, and next year will be putting on a music festival. One of the aims of the group is to urge the health authorities to appoint another Sapphire nurse ? one who specialises in epilepsy treatment ? to assist the only such nurse in the South West, Debbie Coker, who works at Derriford Hospital on behalf of the 5,000 people in the region with the condition. For more information contact the branch on 079362 45321 or email [email protected]">[email protected]