CureCaps
Volunteer To Make CureCaps – Hand in Hand We Will Find Cures For The Brain
In November 2007, we organized a grassroots effort called CureCaps and asked volunteers from around the world to help us fight deadly neurological diseases by making hats to raise money for brain research.
Read about the $15,000 dollars of financial grants made to date to world renown Alzheimer’s and cholesterol researchers — all thanks to volunteers!
You can think of CureCaps as our “Pink Ribbon” — the hats are a symbol of hope to cure brain diseases that impact millions of people worldwide.
The CureCaps project was started in honor of our seven year old identical twins, Addi and Cassi Hempel, who suffer from a rare and fatal disease called Niemann Pick Type C which is often referred to as the “Childhood Alzheimer’s,” as it causes dementia in young children.
Since 2007, the CureCaps project has expanded to include many volunteers. My good friend, Herah Osborne, another M.O.M. (Mom’s On a Mission!) who has fraternal twins afflicted with Fragile X/Autism is helping co-lead the effort. The goal of our project is to take the best handmade hat designs made by volunteers, sell them and then recreate top designs.
Our dream is to find a major sponsor to help us market the hats with proceeds going to fund collaborative brain research into neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, Fragile X, Niemann Pick Type C and many others. After all, we only have one brain. Our goal in 2011 was to fund our first collaborative brain research project from the proceeds made from the hats we have collected a critical mass of hats – 3,000 so far!
We reached that goal and are working to sell more hats to raise additional dollars for more research projects with scientists such as Dr. Ashley Bush, a leading Alzheimer’s researcher looking at the role that disturbed metals such as iron and copper play in neurodegenerative diseases.
“Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”
Mattie Stepanek, was an American poet and advocate, who had six books of poetry that all reached The New York Times bestsellers list. He became a well-respected motivational speaker, and lobbied on Capitol Hill on behalf of peace, people with disabilities, and children with life-threatening conditions like Addi and Cassi. Mattie suffered from a very rare form of muscular dystrophy and passed away shortly before his 14th birthday.
We hope that as word continues to spread about our CureCaps hat making effort to cure the brain, more volunteers will join our team. Since the project started, we have collected over 3000 CureCaps. Our goal is to reach 100,000 hats – each hat is sold between $15-$30 so we can raise a sizable amount for brain research if we can get your help. You can view pictures of the hats volunteers have donated so far here.
Made From the Heart to Cure the Brain
The one question everyone wants to know is if there is one pattern that should be followed when making CureCaps. As you can tell by the photos, the answer is “No.” We want each CureCap to be a unique. Our tagline is, “Made from the Heart to Cure the Brain.” We want CureCaps to be designed for kids and adults — each hat represents hope for cures for the brain. Just send hats — all shapes, sizes, colors and styles!
Where Do Donations Go?
All donations go to The Addi and Cassi Fund CureCaps project. 100% of the money raised goes into this project to expand it. Again, our goal is collaborative brain research efforts to speed up research that will help all people suffering from these conditions.
Join Our Cause Today
If you are interested in joining our global fight to cure the brain, please email us. In addition, if know of a friend who knits, crochets or sews or if you are part of a club willing to donate time to our cause, please let us know. We look forward to our daily trip to our mailbox to receive CureCaps — made from the heart to cure the brain!
Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity,
Chris Hempel
A M.O.M. – Mom’s On a Mission
Send CureCaps To:
The CureCaps Project
c/o Ms. Addi & Cassi Hempel
14125 Saddlebow Drive
Reno, NV 89511
(775) 849-1924
volunteer@curecaps.com