Zac Easter was an all-American kid; he loved football, he loved his family, and he had hopes and dreams for a future with his high school sweetheart. Zac also lived with mental illness that was the result of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Zac knew something was wrong with his brain and wanted others to understand what he was going through so he kept journals of his experiences. Having played football since elementary school, Zac had endured multiple brain injuries, or what we commonly call concussions. Zac died in 2015 as a result of his mental health issues and to honor Zac's life and prevent future tragedies, his mother, Brenda Easter, founded CTE-Hope, a foundation that raises awareness and supports research and funding for CTE. Brenda shares her family's journey through Zac's mental health struggles and how even in his absence, his story lives on and makes a difference for future generations of kids who play sports.

CTE Hope

Love, Zac

GQ Video