My name is Braden Herbsman, and brain health is not just a cause to me — it is the constant in my life. I was born with epilepsy and diagnosed as a toddler, meaning I have never known a day without it. I have lived through the seizures, the uncertainty, and the challenges that come with a condition so many people still don't fully understand. But I am not alone in my family — both my father and my brother also live with epilepsy.

My brother's journey with epilepsy has been particularly difficult. There was a time when he was enduring seizures every single week, eventually leading to hospitalization and diagnostic brain surgery. The impact of epilepsy stretched far beyond the seizures themselves, touching many aspects of his life, including his behavior and daily well-being. But his story is also one of resilience — he has since made remarkable improvements and continues to grow stronger every day. Watching him fight through his hardest moments and come out the other side has been both heartbreaking and deeply inspiring. 

I have also known the devastating heartbreak of brain cancer. I lost someone special to me and everyone who knew him, my great-uncle Richard Baron, to this cruel disease, and his memory is with me in everything I do.

Brain health is personal to me in every sense of the word, which is why I created Bracketology for Brain Health to raise funds for neurological research. This is not simply about money, but to honor each and every person and family fighting to overcome the challenges they face.