Kate Wareham on learning to swim with epilepsy

About this episode

Kate Wareham shares her experience of swimming with epilepsy and the challenges she faces.

This episode was published on March 26 to coincide with Epilepsy Awareness Day ( #PurpleDay ). Visit ⁠⁠Epilepsy NZ⁠⁠ to learn more and ⁠buy Kate's swim towels and caps⁠ , which she sells to raise funds for Epilepsy NZ. Kate Wareham is a Wellington pool and open water swimmer, the CEO of Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA), and last year she was diagnosed with epilepsy, a neurological condition that can cause recurring, unprovoked seizures. Kate experienced her first seizure in 2025 while in Italy on holiday with her family, a few days after completing a lake swim event. Since her diagnosis she has been learning to navigate life as a swimmer with epilepsy, a condition that affects about 1% of the world’s population. In this episode Kate shares her experience of having a seizure while overseas, the life changes that have come with her diagnosis, how others have supported her at the pool and in the sea, and how she manages swimming with epilepsy. Health and safety notes: Every swimmer is different and every person with epilepsy is different, so talk to your medical health professional for advice on exercising safely after a diagnosis. If you have epilepsy, don’t swim alone and tell…

People in this episode

Host: Shona Riddell

Guest: Kate Wareham

Topics covered

• epilepsy
• swimming
• health
• personal experience
• awareness

Keywords

• epilepsy
• swimming
• seizures
• health
• awareness
• personal story
• open water

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Volunteer Service Abroad, Epilepsy NZ

Places: Wellington, Italy, North Island

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