This fundraiser is dedicated to Michael Burk, who passed away in late May 2018, and to all those who have struggled with the demons of depression. 

This is the story of a man who once had a vibrant enthusiasm for life, but who ultimately lost the battle against his own mind.

Michael Burk was born on February 22, 1953 near Salt Lake City, Utah. From an early age he was ahead of his time. Known for playing card games during his classes while still acing exams, he had extra time to play and explore his own interests. He graduated early from high school and first studied at Virginia Tech. His curiosity and passion for creating new things led him to study Chemistry at the University of Oregon. He later worked at the Naval Research Laboratory, in Washington D.C., where he also met his wife. They had a daughter and settled their family in northern Virginia. There he began to pass on his affection for the unconventional through his daughter. He exposed her to as many opportunities, sports, and environments as he could. This was much to the dismay of his daughter at the time, who never felt she could be "cool" in school since she spent her weekends outside in a boat or hiking a mountain, rather than watching popular cartoons, and left her classmates confused when she was doing long division when they were just learning numbers. And no DMV would give an 11-year old girl a driver's license even if she could drive a stick shift. 

It was around this time that the struggle really began. However, during this time he also began to look outward. He began to devote more and more time to volunteer work, volunteering with multiple organizations including Mason Neck State Park, Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Center and Special Olympics, which also allowed his daughter to volunteer with him. He went back to school and became certified as a Emergency Medical Technician. He was a man in search of meaning. Even when no longer employed as a chemist or engineer, he would still draw inventions on the back of pizza boxes and enthusiastically share new ideas he had for improving quality of life. But eventually his enthusiasm and passion became dimmer and dimmer, and despite efforts of family, friends and coworkers, he ultimately he lost the battle.

We can do better. We need to do better. In an age where school shootings are no longer surprising and an estimated 16.2 million adults in the U.S. alone struggle with depression, we need more awareness and research. The amount of funding for mental health research pales in comparison to that of cancer research. But most importantly, we can all help the situation by actively fighting the stigma that comes with talking about mental health. So write about it. Talk about it. Let's help those who are lost in the dark.

"Ooh, a storm is threat'ning

My very life today

If I don't get some shelter

Oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away"

-Rolling Stones

Why did we choose Brain Behavior & Research? They say it pretty well themselves...

• Since 1987, the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) has awarded more than $380 million to fund more than 5,500 grants to more than 4,500 scientists around the world.

• According to the Rand Corporation, BBRF is the nation’s top non-governmental funder of mental health research grants.

• The mission of the Foundation is to alleviate the suffering caused by mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research.

• 100% of contributions for research are invested in research grants to neuroscientists thanks to the generous support of two family foundations which cover BBRF operating expenses.

• The Foundation only funds scientists whose research is reviewed and recommended by a world-renowned Scientific Council including Nobel Prize winners and chairs of psychiatric departments.

• Learn more about the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.