Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Delivers Remarks at Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (Cure)

October 29, 2014

Mayor de Blasio: Thank you David. David kindly, earlier today, went over to City Hall and addressed the troops as it were – addressed a lot of the leaders of our administration and helped spur them on in their world of public service. And I just want to say at the outset – you know, there’s nothing we wish for more than for people to serve others, and ideally make a life of it. And sometimes people have to be reminded, no matter how tough it seems – it’s been a tough week in New York City, the last week or so – people have to be reminded why we come here, why it’s so important, what it means for people’s lives who dare to do the extraordinary job based on his extraordinary service to this nation – laying it out and helping to energize people. So, I just want to say at the outset, a special thank you, David, not only for that but for all he has done for our country. Thank you, David.

[Applause]

And that’s all I want to say about David because now I rather talk about Susan.

[Laughter]

You had your moment David. Susan has been such an extraordinary driving force for CURE. This event and the extraordinary group of people gathered here is evidence of her determination and her leadership. And it is so impressive to me when anyone sets a goal of doing something, especially something new and unknown, and makes it come to life and makes it have meaning for thousands and thousands of people. CURE – that is the trajectory of CURE – an organization founded out of one family’s experience, and aiming to do something that will reach deeply to so many people in need. I think there is something particularly admirable about that – the most human of realities of experiencing something, experiencing a challenge and determining – one, that something can be done and two, that something has to be done for the many. It wouldn’t be an unfair reaction for anyone experiencing any challenge – disease or any other hardship – to only want to solve it for themselves and their family. But Susan’s impulse was to find a way to reach all those needs and CURE went from a notion, to something that has already had amazing, amazing results. So let’s give Susan a round of applause.

[Applause]

Now, I am a connoisseur of acronyms. We’ve all seen those acronyms that just didn’t work, but somehow it got determined that they will be used anyway. Well, CURE – Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy. The beauty of this acronym, besides the fact that it actually makes sense and tells you exactly what we’re doing is – it is about a large group of people.  It’s about a creating a community of purpose, very synonymous with the world views of both Axelrods. And the task is great but the extraordinary thing is how much progress is being made – how many millions of dollars have been raised, how much that has achieved already in terms of public education, in terms of fostering research, in terms of helping to dispel the myths and the prejudices that go along with epilepsy. And it’s quite striking, David and I were talking earlier about some other areas of the world that we experience today in 2014. We talked about mental health issues and other things, where there’s still plenty of myths and stigma to go around. It is 2014. We’d like to believe all that is behind us in an ever more educated, sophisticated world. And yet, it isn’t. We find in so many cases, that we have to get just to first base of demystifying, clarifying, helping people to be out in the open and be thoughtful and comfortable talking about whatever the challenge they face is, whatever the challenge their family faces – nothing else can happen without that. I’m sure you’ve gotten an object lesson again in the last week or so about the need to demystify something, that seems foreign and mysterious to people.

CURE is doing such important work getting people to understand epilepsy, be able to have a different kind of conversation about it, understand all the ways that we can act and getting people involved in that process to give – let alone, in the work of supporting the research that will ultimately lead to a cure. As I mentioned, this organization evolved from the Axelrod’s family experience from their daughter Lauren – and all the challenges she went through – the determination of this family to turn that pain into action and do something that will help others. The amazing fact is it just keeps growing in such a good way. This couple reaching so many people, bringing them in, getting them involved and taking what was so difficult an episode in their lives, and turning it into something that is turning into more and more good. I will note that this couple is so devoted to their cause that David did – as I mentioned to you earlier – David did the unthinkable on national television and deprived us of what was one of the great mustaches in our national life.

[Laughter]

I watched in horror that day. And yes, it was for a good cause. And as I understand it, it raised one million dollars at that exact moment for this organization.

[Applause]

And that’s what matters most to supporting CURE but I miss the mustache too. I’m not going to hold back. I miss the mustache.

Unknown: [inaudible]

[Laughter]

Mayor: I’m reminded of a man long ago, which is a very rich man, who saves a nickel or something because he doesn’t want to spend it because he’s frugal. And someone says, why are you doing that and he said, how do you think a man like me became a man like me?

[Laughter]

So, your agile ability to set up another million dollars really – 

[Laughter]

Well, I hope someone in this room will take him up on that. I don’t happen to have that money but I think we should organize quickly to get someone to challenge him to put the mustache back. You with that? Will you support that? Ok I think we just started something here tonight. I welcome the first person to step forward who will help us raise a million dollars for David to put the mustache back.

But in conclusion, amazing work being done by CURE, work that will get to the heart of the matter, that is helping thousands and will help so many more when the cure is reached. And it’s something noble – it’s something admirable to be a part of. So, to everyone here, this is when we say thank you for being here for supporting this work. I know a lot of you are involved deeply in this work and we thank you for that.  I know a lot of you are supporting it, with your resources and that’s what’s allowing this to move forward and you honor everyone who has this challenge – every family that has this challenge by the work you’re doing tonight. You certainly honor these two great people who are leading the charge for all of us. Thank you so much.