A Selma man continues his crusade to bring awareness to a rare brain condition.

John Farris Harper was diagnosed with Chiari malformation, or CM, a decade ago. The conditions happens when the lower portion of the brain descends into a person’s neck.

The disorder can results in a wide range of symptoms like coordination problems, muscle weakness, vision and swallowing difficulties or severe headaches. It’s more commonly diagnosed in newborns but can occur later in life.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the condition occurs in one of about every 1,000 births.

Complicating that estimate is the fact that some children who are born with the condition may not show symptoms until adolescence or adulthood, if at all.

Harper was in his 30s when he was diagnosed after he went to the doctor with debilitating headaches.

“You can’t do anything — it’s worse than a migraine,” Harper said in a past interview.

He’s since had surgery but still has balance issues and headaches.

Harper is working to raise awareness about the condition and network with others who suffer from it.

People with Chiari malformation are often given a wrong diagnosis, and Harper encourages people to demand a MRI if they continue to show signs of CM.

So far this month, Harper has gotten proclamations from the city of Selma, Dallas County Commission and State of Alabama seeking to bring awareness to CM during the month of September.

“We’re still trying to get people to know about it,” Harper said.

He also plans to participate in a walk in Tuskegee on Sept. 19, the closest event to Selma.

However, several events are planned across Alabama this month.

Harper can be contacted on Facebook by looking up John Farris Harper.