October 25, 2009 - 60 Minutes & C.U.R.E.

Sunday October 25, 2009 - 60 Minutes & C.U.R.E.

It's a strange feeling knowing that the world is about to take a peek inside your family's life. On Sunday, 15 million people will tune in to 60 Minutes to watch my family's struggle with our daughter Lauren's disease-epilepsy. David, Lauren, and I chose to do this because we need to do whatever we can to bring epilepsy out of the shadows and ask our fellow Americans to help us find a cure. This is my life's mission, and it's why we started CURE. In the program, people will also meet a courageous war veteran, Captain Pat Horan, who has epilepsy following a traumatic brain injury, and visit the research lab of CURE's scientific advisor Frances Jensen. I'm certain it will be a powerful show.

If I had one hope for this broadcast, it would be that, after Sunday, people won't think of epilepsy as benign and easily treatable, but instead realize that millions of people are affected by it, that 30 percent of patients continue to have seizures, and that epilepsy can and does kill. As many as 50,000 men, women, and children die every year as a result of an epileptic seizure. And every five minutes a child will be diagnosed in the United States.

When people learn these facts-and become aware of how little funding for research there is-I am confident they will help. That's why we are launching the Every Dollar Counts Campaign/Every Seizure Matters Campaign to raise $250,000 for epilepsy research by the end of the year to fund the Special Friends for a Cure award. Remember, every dollar counts!

Susan Axelrod

On October 25th, 60 Minutes will air a segment on CURE and epilepsy. Friends and family around the country are holding Viewing Parties to raise awareness of epilepsy and seizures. Interested in spreading the word and hosting your own Viewing Party? Contact: info@CUREepilepsy.org or 800-765-7118

Susan Axelrod, President & Founder
Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy
730 N. Franklin St. Suite 404
Chicago, IL, 60654
tel. 312-255-1801
tel. 800-765-7118
info@CUREepilepsy.org

David, Susan and Lauren Axelrod - "It's Time We Found A Cure !"