Business & Tech

Purple Cupcakes to Help Raise Epilepsy Awareness

A local business is donating proceeds to a good cause this week.

Billy Riccardi was just one-year-old when he was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Three months later, he underwent brain surgery, which his father Bill Riccardi said helped to "dramatically reduce" the frequency of his seizures to one or two a year.

"Now, he just stays on medication," said Riccardi, of the second grader.

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He further revealed, "One of the many reasons we moved to Pleasantville is they have such a great special education program that's integrated. [Billy] gets to participate in his class with peers, and is pulled out for reading and math."

When Riccardi reached out to Pleasantville's to help promote a national initiative called the Great Purple Cupcake Project through The Anita Kaufmann Foundation, Owner Denise Treco didn't hesitate to say yes.

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According to a statement from Flour and Sun Bakery, one in 100 Americans is affected by epilepsy, but Riccardi said the disorder is dramatically underfunded and under-researched.

"There's definitely a lack of awareness," he said, "but, it's slowly being lifted."

With the help of well-known figures, including NBA players, talking about their struggles with epilepsy, a wider audience is being reached, said Riccardi.

"It helps kids feel comfortable," he said, adding widespread awareness helps children affected by epilepsy to feel less "limited in what they can do."

The Great Purple Cupcake Project has involved "cupcakeries" and bakeries across the country for the past three years, and Flour and Sun's goodies are selling well on the first day of the fundraiser.

“This is a great way to give back to the community by doing something we’re already great at—making delicious cupcakes! It is wonderful that local bakeries are being given the chance to educate people about a condition that affects so many," said Treco in a statement.

"Denise is donating a dollar from every cupcake that's sold back to the Anita Kaufmann Foundation," explained Riccardi.

The fundraiser lasts through March 26, which is Purple Day. The chocolate or vanilla cupcakes cost $2.75 each and are topped with purple vanilla buttercream frosting and sprinkles.

"It's nice because it's a really good fit," said Riccardi. "We're local, Billy lives in Pleasantville and goes to Bedford Road School; and Flour and Sun is a local business. It's kind of like everybody helping everybody."


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