Vice President Joe Biden made a stop in Chicago yesterday to help raise money for an old friend.
He came to town to speak at the Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy annual fundraiser at Navy Pier. CURE was founded by Susan Axelrod, the wife of former presidential advisor David Axelrod.
The organization raises money in hopes of finding a cure for Epilepsy, a disease that affects the Axelrod's eldest daughter, Lauren.
Tuesday night's fundraiser brought in $800,000 for epilepsy research, according to the Sun-Times. About 900 people attended, including Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Biden told the crowd about his cranial aneurysm 24 years ago. Doctors gave him a 30 percent chance of survival before they operated. He spent the next seven months on anti-seizure medications.
Three million Americans suffer from epilepsy.
Vice President Biden also attended a fundraiser for his and President Obama's re-election campaign. The event was closed to the press and was also held at Navy Pier at Riva's restaurant.
