Dear Friends,
As a Marine Corps Captain in Afghanistan, I suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI)—one that went undiagnosed at the time. Like many service members, I didn’t realize the full extent of the injury until months later, when I had my first seizure. Approximately 40% of service members with severe TBI develop post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), but even those with less severe injuries face a significantly higher risk.
That’s why I was deeply concerned when I learned that Congress cut this year’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) budget by 57%, eliminating all new funding for epilepsy research in 2025.
For the past decade, the Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) within the CDMRP has been a driving force in TBI and epilepsy research. My friends at CURE Epilepsy helped launch this program, fueling breakthrough discoveries—including research that could lead to the first-ever preventative treatment for PTE.
We can’t afford to lose momentum.
As government funding declines, CURE Epilepsy is stepping up to keep critical research going. Without it, too many people—veterans like me, civilians, and families worldwide—will continue waiting for answers.
We don’t know what the future holds for the ERP, but we do know this: CURE Epilepsy’s role in driving research has never been more important.
That’s why I’m asking for your support today.
Right now, your gift will have twice the impact. Thanks to a generous matching gift from CURE Epilepsy board member Carrie Garman and her husband Matt, every dollar you give will be matched—fueling research and bringing us closer to a world without seizures.
Breakthroughs don’t happen without action. Every gift brings us closer to answers.
I am incredibly grateful for your support. Thank you for standing with us.
With gratitude and determination,
Captain Jack Somers
