American Brain Foundation

The American Brain Foundation brings researchers and donors together in the relentless pursuit of prevention, improved treatments,...Learn more

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Hannah Roush is fundraising
Brain Research Initiative for Generating Healthier Treatment
Fundraising effort for brain disease research

Run by students Sarah Lawrence and Hannah Roush

About one in three people are affected by neurological conditions, which is almost three billion people worldwide. As more people are affected by brain diseases, research for their cures becomes even more imperative. Our cause is to raise money for the American Brain Foundation, a non-profit that is working toward a future without brain disease. If you want to learn more about the American Brain Foundation, visit https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/.

Sarah's Story

Hi, my name is Sarah Lawrence. I’m a student at Copley High School and I participate in a lot of activities like cross country/track and field, Science Olympiad, and Key Club just to name a few. I have had a pretty normal life, that was until I started having unbearable headaches in January 2022. By that March, I could barely keep my eyes open and would often not be able to keep food down. On April 5, 2022, I got an MRI that led to a whirlwind in which I was rushed to the emergency room and was told I needed emergency brain surgery. I had obstructive hydrocephalus, which is a condition where the fluid in my brain was not able to flow correctly. The next morning on April 6, 2022, I had ETV surgery where my neurosurgeon created a new hole in my brain for the fluid to flow. Now, over two years later, the ETV thankfully hasn’t failed, so I’m going to be able to live a long, healthy life with few complications from my cured disease. Many are not as lucky as me, with many brain diseases and disorders having no effective cures. That is why I am on this journey to raise money for brain disease research. Follow along as we build this fundraiser and announce events coming soon.

Hannahs Story

Hi my name is Hannah Roush and I am also a student at Copley High School. I am a member of the girls golf team and I participate in activities like Science Olympiad, band, and Chem club to name a few. While I, myself, have not had a brain disease, this past year someone very close to me had to go through the trials of one. In mid December of 2023 my dad had a seizure which resulted in him being rushed to the hospital for a bunch if tests. Using a spinal tap, he was diagnosed with fungal menigitis, which is a rare fungal infection of areas around the brain and spine. Fungal meningitis can be fatal but the doctors said that it was caught early enough to hopefully treat. They started my dad on a lot of meds, some antifungal, that would over time hopefully lead to a full recovery. Today, six months later, we are seeing some improvement in my dad's health, but there is still a ways to go. My dad was lucky enough to have this caught early so it can be treated, but it has still been a long and sometimes difficult recovery process. By working on this fundraiser, I hope to raise money so that researchers can develop more efficient treatment methods for diseases like fungal menigits, and so they can also work on discovering cures for the brain diseases that currently are untreatable. Follow along and share this as we build this fundraiser and announce events coming soon!
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19 supporters
Destiny Brown is fundraising
Lyndas Cause
American Brain Foundation

I don’t know about you, but speaking for myself, I was always under the impression that when someone went to the doctor, they would just “figure it out”. My mother, Lynda Fleenor, went to the hospital in September of 2018, with what she thought was just a headache. It’s just kind of a standard, routine thing that people deal with. I had no clue that when she called me on that early September day to tell me that she wasn’t feeling right and was going to the emergency room, it would be the last conversation I’d ever have with her.

To know my mom, was to love her. She was not only the mother to myself and my three siblings, but she assumed that role with much of our extended family. She was known for her quick wit, her amazing skills in the kitchen, and for always being there for anyone in need. She was a mother, a wife, a grandma, a best friend, a counselor, and everything in between. She was there anytime you needed her. It didn’t matter if it was a phone call in the middle of the night when life wasn’t going so good, a flat tire on the side of the road, or even just a morning call to say hello; she was always there. People like her are rare to find these days and when you’re lucky enough to call someone like that your mom, you’re extra blessed.

As far as medicine has come, there’s a long way to go. There’s so much research when it comes to illness but one thing that is trailing behind is brain disease. There’s just not enough information or progress when it comes to the human brain. The most popular guess for my mom’s illness is “Whipple’s Disease”. There was also a chance of Encephalitis, West Nile and a few others. I guess I always thought when you went to the hospital they would figure it out. The truth is that brain diseases and illness are so far behind other spectrums of illness that there’s a long way to go. I don’t know, and better yet, the doctors don’t know what took my mom, but it was a nasty, grueling end to her life. She spent time in over six different facilities (some of which were considered “experts”) for over seven months, unable to speak, eat, or communicate in any manner. The person that we loved the most, was there for everyone, was lying on her deathbed, and there wasn’t a single thing we could do. It was the most helpless feeling in the world.

After seven months of fighting, my mother, the strongest person I’ve ever met, finally let go and passed on at the age of 63. We were never given an official diagnosis, and to this day, it remains a mystery which nasty disease took her from us. With that being said, as a way to honor her, I thought it would be a great idea to raise money to advance the research of brain diseases. The American Brain Foundation has devoted their resources and research to try and help prevent and cure these mysterious diseases that have taken many a loved one from this earth. I ask with a humble heart that you please donate to this cause in an effort to prevent this unfortunate circumstance from happening to anyone else in the future. Lynda Fleenor was a mother, a wife, a grandma, an aunt, and a best friend to many; I would like to honor her legacy by advancing research of the human brain in any way possible. Any donation is greatly appreciated.

⁃ Casey Fleenor

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10 supporters
Jimmy Johenning is fundraising
Jimmy’s Marathon Fundraiser
Join my effort to help end Alzheimer’s.

As many of you know, I have been an avid runner for the past few years. Last fall, I decided I would take on my home race - the LA Marathon - and have been focused on training both physically and mentally in preparation for my race day: March 24.

What you may not know is that the past year has been especially trying for our family.

Both of my grandparents passed away within weeks of each other after long and steady deteriorating health. My Grandmother passed this January at age 92, suffering a severe mental decline caused by Alzheimer’s Disease. Her long transformation was heartbreaking for my family and especially difficult for my Grandfather who was her caregiver and rock for so many years. We like to think that after she passed he finally felt free to let go, passing at age 94 in early February. And while we were saddened by the loss, we are happy thinking they together in peace once again.

I want to use my race as both a celebration of their love and endurance in life - after all, 92 and 94 years old is more life than we can hope for - but also as an opportunity to contribute towards finding a cure for this disease that has affected so many millions of people. I have decided to give to the American Brain Foundation. The organization has a simple, but lofty goal of ‘ending brain disease’, and in addition to Alzheimer’s, they contribute to stroke, autism, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and migraine research, the latter of which I am personally afflicted by, as was my Grandmother.

100% of the donations will go to the American Brain Foundation.

Please help me celebrate life, the memories we cherish, and contribute to my campaign to help others find the cures they so desperately seek.
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53 supporters
Frank Mezzacappa is fundraising
RAGBRAI - Biking for Moya Moya
As many of you know, my beautiful wife, Amy, passed away after a valiant fight against a terrible disease called Moya Moya. This is a rare, progressive disease caused by blocked arteries in the brain. Affected people are at increased risk for blood clots, strokes, and TIAs. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment, as there are no effective medications to treat this.

My coping with with the loss of Amy has been riding my bicycle. This year, I am again doing RAGBRAI (Registers Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) at the end of July. I would like to raise money for research to help others with this disease and hopefully prevent the complications that happened to Amy. The ride is 430 miles - please consider donating 1 cent per mile, 10 cents per mile, or whatever you can contribute.

Any donation is in honor of Amy, and will hopefully help fight her disease and others like it. Donations will go directly to the American Brain Foundation, which funds the research of brain diseases, including Moya Moya.

Thank you, and God bless.
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81 supporters

About American Brain Foundation

The American Brain Foundation brings researchers and donors together in the relentless pursuit of prevention, improved treatments, and cures for brain diseases and disorders. We invest in research across the whole spectrum of brain disease, including ALS, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, neuromuscular disease, epilepsy, and more. We know brain diseases are interconnected, and our innovative, whole-brain approach gives us an edge in understanding and combating them.

201 Chicago AveMinneapolis, MN 55415

Find American Brain Foundation at

Causes

Neurology

Established

1993

Tax ID

41-1717098

NTEE code

Neurology, Neuroscience

American Brain Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 41-1717098. Donations are tax-deductible. Select content is provided by GuideStar.

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American Brain Foundation

Brain Research Initiative for Generating Healthier Treatment

Lyndas Cause

Jimmy’s Marathon Fundraiser

RAGBRAI - Biking for Moya Moya