Steps of Hope
Steps of Hope is a province-wide community walk organized by The Centre for Epilepsy and Seizure Education in BC to raise awareness about epilepsy and bring communities together in support of individuals and families living with seizures across British Columbia.
Participants can join the walk at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford or take part from their own community anywhere in BC by simply walking and showing support.
Every participant helps strengthen awareness, education, and support for people affected by epilepsy throughout the province.
📅 Date
Saturday May 2, 2026
⏰ Time
10:00 AM
📍 Location
Mill Lake Park, Abbotsford
Walk locally or anywhere in BC.
Join Us in Abbotsford
Join us at Mill Lake Park for a welcoming, family-friendly community event.
- Guided community walk around Mill Lake
- Family-friendly activities for all ages
- Photo booth to capture your Steps of Hope moments
- Pets in Purple parade and photo opportunities
- Opportunities to connect and learn more about epilepsy
Participate From Your Community
Take part from wherever you are in BC and still be part of Steps of Hope.
- Walk in your neighbourhood, park, or favourite trail
- Invite friends, family, or coworkers to join you
- Wear purple or your Steps of Hope shirt
- Share photos so we can celebrate across BC
- Be part of a province-wide movement
Pets in Purple
Bring your pet along and join in the fun at Steps of Hope.
- Pets are welcome at the walk and must remain on leash
- Dress your pet in purple or a fun accessory if you would like
- Take part in the Pets in Purple parade and photo opportunities
- A fun way to help raise awareness and include the whole family
Be an Event Volunteer
Support behind the scenes and help create a welcoming experience for everyone.
- Assist with event setup before the walk
- Help welcome and guide participants
- Support activities and event flow
- Help with takedown after the event
How You Can Participate
There are three simple ways to take part in Steps of Hope. You can register to walk and join the event, purchase a shirt to show your support, or create a page to invite others to sponsor your walk. You can choose one option or take part in more than one.
Registering is for participating in the walk. Buying a shirt is a way to show your support and help spread awareness. Creating a page allows you to invite friends and family to sponsor your walk and support epilepsy programs across BC. This is completely optional, and many participants choose to both walk and invite support.
Register to Walk (Free)
Registration is completely free. This option is for people who simply want to join the walk and show support.
- No registration fee
- No fundraising required
- Join the event at Mill Lake Park
- Or participate anywhere in BC
- Great for families, friends, and community supporters
Buy a Steps of Hope Shirt
Click to zoom
View in larger format
Shirt design will be similar to this.
- Wear it on walk day
- Show support for epilepsy awareness
- Support the event even if you cannot attend
Invite Support for Your Walk (Individual or Team)
You can get started right away by creating your own individual or team page. Once your page is set up, you can invite friends and family to sponsor your walk and support epilepsy programs across BC.
- Create a page as an individual or start a team
- Join an existing team through Zeffy if you prefer to support a group
- Invite friends and family to sponsor your walk (optional)
- Share your page with your network
- See how your support grows over time
Why Steps of Hope Matters
More than 55,000 people in British Columbia live with epilepsy. Despite this, epilepsy is still widely misunderstood, and many people experience stigma, isolation, and barriers to support.
Steps of Hope brings communities together to raise awareness, build understanding, and show support for individuals and families living with seizures across BC.
How Your Support Helps
- One-to-one support for individuals and families
- Education in schools, workplaces, and communities
- Community Hubs that help people connect
- Trusted resources for living with seizures
Why We Walk
- To raise awareness about epilepsy
- To show support for those affected
- To build stronger communities
- To remind people they are not alone
Celebrating Our Community
Every participant who chooses to create a page and invite support for their walk helps strengthen awareness, education, and support for people living with epilepsy across British Columbia. Every effort, big or small, makes a meaningful difference.
Individual Impact
Individuals raising awareness and support through their personal networks
Team Impact
Groups coming together to support the epilepsy community
Community Participation
People walking across BC and showing visible support
Making a Difference
Every effort helping reduce stigma and increase understanding
Many participants aim to invite a few friends or family members to sponsor their walk, often reaching $100 to $250 in support.
You can start right away by creating your page and sharing your link with friends and family. Each page you create helps raise awareness and support for people living with epilepsy across BC.
Community Goal: $5,000
$0 raised so far • help us reach our goal
Every page created helps move us closer to our goal
Frequently Asked Questions
Is registration free?
Yes. Registration to join Steps of Hope is completely free. You can sign up, attend the walk in Abbotsford, or participate from your own community anywhere in BC without any cost.
Do I have to create a page or invite support?
No. Creating a page and inviting support is completely optional. Many people choose to simply register and take part in the walk to show support. Others choose to create a page and invite friends and family to sponsor their walk to help expand epilepsy education and support programs across BC.
What is the difference between registering and creating a page?
Registering means you are signing up to participate in the walk.
Creating a page means you set up your own individual or team page and invite friends, family, and coworkers to sponsor your walk in support of epilepsy programs.
You can do one or both. You can walk without creating a page, or you can walk and invite support at the same time.
How does inviting support for my walk work?
We use a platform called Zeffy to make it simple to invite support for your walk. You can create your own individual or team page in just a few minutes.
Once your page is created, you receive your own personal link that you can share with others. Friends and family can sponsor your walk directly through your page, and you can see your support grow over time.
You can start inviting support right away before the event and continue leading up to and after the walk.
Can I create or join a team?
Yes. You can create your own page as an individual, start a team, or join an existing team through Zeffy.
Teams are a great way to involve workplaces, families, or groups of friends. Each team member can invite support for their walk, and together you can see your combined impact. You can also search for and join a team when you sign up.
What if I do not live in Abbotsford?
You can still participate by walking in your own community anywhere in British Columbia. Many participants walk in their neighbourhoods, parks, or with small groups and still feel part of the larger event.
Can I buy a shirt without fundraising?
Yes. Shirts can be purchased separately whether or not you are fundraising or attending the walk.
Are pets allowed?
Yes. Pets are welcome at the Abbotsford walk but must remain on leash at all times.
Can children participate?
Yes. Steps of Hope is a family-friendly event and people of all ages are welcome to take part.