August 17, 2026

Rock for SCI Research - September 23, 2026

Matthew Rodreick

I’m excited to share that U2FP is hosting our 2nd Annual Rock for SCI Research benefit concert, featuring a great line-up of musicians: Seattle-based Eric Howk (of Portugal. The Man), Freaque (aka, my son Gabriel) and my band Zoë Says Go. 

Both Eric Howk and Freaque live with a spinal cord injury and have joined this effort because of their personal stake in this work. The show is set for Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis.

Last year’s inaugural concert helped us push back against $40M in federal cuts to SCI research funding. Those cuts also trickled down to several of our state funding programs, putting them in jeopardy as well. 
 

With your support, U2FP organized a coalition of SCI organizational partners that helped restore $33M of the $40M that was cut from the Department of War’s Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP)! Better yet, we were also able to successfully defend our state programs in Minnesota and Ohio that came under threat.

Jerrod Kerr (left), President of NASCIC, alongside Katie Valez (right), VP of Global Marketing and Strategy at ANEUVO. Jerrod and Katie were part of U2FP's Capital Roll in Washington, D.C. this past February.

But we can’t let up. As many of you know, SCI research is still massively underfunded compared to other disease conditions, and it places an especially difficult physical, economic and emotional burden on our community. U2FP continues to lead advocacy efforts for the expansion of SCI research and functional recovery.

You may know Eric Howk as a member of the massively successful rock band, Portugal. The Man. Eric also lives with an SCI and is coming off the release of his solo album SKYKING. He plans to rip through a set of favorites in a night that will surely be memorable.

Minneapolis-based Freaque will be performing their funky carnival 10-piece to rattle the pillars of power. They’ll be joined by Zoë Says Go (friends and family of Freaque) who are coming off a run at The Minnesota Fringe Festival, and will bring their blend of rock/folk/soul to make noise and raise funds for spinal cord injury recovery.

And if you can’t make the show due to location or schedule conflicts, don’t worry. Like last year, we’ll also be running a virtual auction during the concert that includes incredible (and accessible) vacation homes, art, clothing, outdoor adventures and more. (Stay tuned for more details about the auction). All proceeds from the concert and auction will benefit Unite 2 Fight Paralysis. 

Our work continues to grow as we are now leading an effort - alongside other SCI orgs and foundations - to develop a National Plan for SCI. This is a strategy modeled after similar coalitions in adjacent disease conditions like ALS, Alzheimer's, Stroke and others. A National Plan for SCI, enacted with the support of Congress will enable us to increase funding for research, accurate data on costs, quality of life efforts and better access for injured people across the board.

Now is the time to keep up the pressure and change the momentum of this fight with the power of music. And we’re gonna have a good time doing it!

Join us!


PS - Consider becoming a monthly donor at whatever amount is affordable for you. We have launched a campaign to add 33 new monthly donors in honor of the $33M in federal funding we helped restore this year. Help us sustain this important work by giving monthly - it makes a huge difference!