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Man walking barefoot in mission to save daughter ends trek at State Capitol

An Army dad is walking barefoot from Maine to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to raise awareness and money to save his daughter who suffers from a rare genetic disease. He left Richmond, Virginia this morning.

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RICHMOND, VA. — A man's walk to raise money for his young daughter is taking him down the east coast and into North Carolina.

Maj. Chris Brannigan is walking 1,200 miles barefoot. The Army dad is embarking on the months-long journey to spread awareness and raise money to help his daughter.

His daughter, Hasti. The 9-year-old has a rare genetic disease called Cornelia de Lange syndrome. The disease causes seizures and has no known cure. Branningan's goal is to raise $3.5 million to fund a gene therapy treatment. That money could be life-changing for his daughter's life and others suffering with CdLS.

After starting in Maine in June, Branningan hoped to get all the way to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, a military stronghold. But, after Hasti was hospitalized, Brannigan decided to end his walk at the 1,000 mile mark at the State Capital in downtown Raleigh on Monday.

"I'm a dad and every dad just wants his little girl to be happy and healthy," he said. "When we found out there could be a treatment we decided we wouldn't stop at anything to make that a possibility."

"I don't feel like I'm doing anything special, I'm just doing something any parent would do for their child," Brannigan said.

Brannigan left Richmond, Virginia on Wednesday morning. To donate to the cause, you can check out the GoFundMe.

On Sept. 25, Brannigan posted an uplifting message on the GoFundMe that included "Thank you for everything you are all doing for Hasti, it keeps my feet moving and my mind focused on the finish line."

Brannigan was met by military representatives, United Kingdom and North Carolina government officials and local leaders from business and civil society communities at the State Capitol.

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