Seizures or fits occur because of an electrical disturbance to the brain.

During the worst kind - a grand mal - the sufferer loses consciousness.

"It is a misconception that anyone having a fit can be helped," said Mr Wood. "The best thing to do is to leave them or make sure there are no objects that may injure the person in their convulsions."

Stress, lack of sleep, illnesses and accidents where the head has been damaged can all cause seizures, but epilepsy can affect anyone at any age.

Anyone wanting to know more about the support group can call Mr Wood on 01565 640581.

MALCOLM Wood had learned to live with his classmates' jibes about his epileptic fits.

But when teachers started accusing the youngster of daydreaming, his parents sought help.

"My teachers felt I was daydreaming and not concentrating on my work," he said.

Malcolm's parents went to see the school's headteacher - and the jibes stopped.

But the teachers remained unsympathetic and offered little help.

"My writing looked like a spider had crawled across the paper so in exams I just got a zero because markers couldn't read it," he said.

The young pupil felt he was on a fast-track to academic failure.

"It was a vicious circle," he said. "I had fits, was called names, didn't participate in class, couldn't keep up, got bad results, got stressed, and had more fits."

But one teacher recognised his condition and spent extra time with the demoralised boy.

"He gave me tuition with my spelling after school," he said. "He made me write out the alphabet until I could do it legibly."

Now 30 years later it is Mr Wood who is playing the good Samaritan.

In June the Knutsford man set up a support group to help sufferers in Altrincham and Mid-Cheshire to come to terms with their illness.

"People can come to talk or just to listen without any pressure," he said.

The group, based in Northwich, invites speakers to give talks and demonstations of the latest equipment.

Research scientist Val Strong will visit the group on November 15 to give a demonstration of seizure alert dogs - animals that have been trained to sense a seizure two minutes before it happens.

"It is well known that dogs and cats have a sixth sense and could prove invaluable to sufferers of powerful attacks," said Mr Wood.

The dogs cannot stop the fit but would give the sufferer time to make sure there are no sharp objects nearby.

The group also has demonstrations of alternative medicine such as aromatherapy and reflexology.

"Massages and other methods are popular at meetings and relieve stress which brings on fits," he said.

And there are links with the David Lewis Centre near Mobberley - one of the leading centres in the country for caring for sufferers of violent seizures.

Current members include sufferers, victims' parents and staff from the centre.

But all have a sense of humour, said group chairman Mr Wood.

"A member rang me up the other day to say she'd had six fits and was going for a world record seventh," he said. "I visited her a few hours later in Wythenshawe Hospital as the seventh seizure had been particularly violent."

Mr Wood suffers mainly from petit mal - small body jerks lasting up to 15 seconds but without losing consciousness.

"At school doctors told me I would grow out of it. I've got better but still have occasional fits," he said

The 40-year-old said medication for, and understanding of, epilepsy had improved since the 1960s.

But he said discrimination and prejudice still existed.

"We have a dilemma because when we go for a job they ask us if they should know of any health problems," he said.

"If we say 'epilepsy' then it is tantamount to a letter of rejection."

Despite the Disability Discrimination Act epilepsy sufferers still find it difficult to win cases against employers.

"The key word is proof which is almost impossible for us to provide," he said.

There is also a greater emphasis on health and safety regulations in factories now and epileptics are often considered a risk.

By law epileptics cannot drive and are advised not to do shift work because of breaking sleep patterns.

"A lot of epileptics debate whether to tell employers the truth at interview and run the risk of being sacked if their condition is found out," he said.

Mr Wood found work as a groundsman in Manchester after leaving school at 16.

He worked all over the country, met his wife-to-be Kim in London five years ago, before returning to live in Manchester Road, Knutsford, two years ago.

"I'm happy with the job I have got and not many people can say that," he said.

Now off work with a bad back, Mr Wood is spending more time looking for new members and helping to change attitudes.

"Half a century ago people thought we were madmen and sent us to asylums," he said.

But Mr Wood said in England things were getting better particularly in schools.

"Kids don't get the hassle I got," he said. "Thankfully there are more Mr Cunliffes about."

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