Chicago, IL (March 28, 2019) – Citizen’s United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) is delighted to announce that Shery and David Cotton and Lisa and Michael Cotton have committed $2 million to benefit CURE and its initiatives to find a cure for epilepsy.
Since its inception in 1998, CURE has been at the forefront of the dramatic shift in the epilepsy research community from simply treating seizures to enhancing understanding of underlying mechanisms and causes, so that cures and preventative strategies can be found. CURE’s research program is cutting-edge, dynamic and responsive to new scientific opportunities and directions through both investigator-initiated grants and unprecedented scientific programs and initiatives.
Shery and David Cotton were the co-founders of Meridian Health Plan, a family owned company where Michael, their son, served as the COO. Shery, David, Lisa and Michael are active philanthropists and strong community supporters, especially in Detroit and their home town of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The family has a very personal relationship with epilepsy and CURE. Four years ago, Lisa and Michael Cotton’s daughter, Vivian passed away at the young age of 18 months. Born prematurely, she suffered from epilepsy due to hydrocephaly. Vivian was a fighter from the very beginning, but despite all the treatments and medications available, her seizures continued. Since losing Vivian in 2015, Lisa and Michael have been actively contributing and fundraising for CURE, and Lisa was elected to the CURE board of directors in 2018. This significant gift will enhance a wide range of CURE activities and further energize development of innovative research and programming that will one day lead to a cure for epilepsy.
“We are immensely grateful to Shery, David, Lisa and Michael. Their family’s story touches so many in the epilepsy community,” said CURE founder Susan Axelrod. “Their compassion and generosity in the face of such devasting loss is truly inspiring and will help fuel discoveries in Vivian’s memory that will save others from suffering similar tragedies in the future.”
ABOUT CURE The mission of Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) is to find a cure for epilepsy by promoting and funding patient-focused research. Since its inception in 1998, CURE has raised over $60 million to advance its goal of no seizures and no side effects. To date, CURE has awarded more than 220 cutting-edge research projects in 15 countries around the world. CURE is the leading non-governmental agency fully committed to funding research in epilepsy. For information about CURE, please visit our website at: www.cureepilepsy.org or contact us at: info@CUREepilepsy.org.