Soldier Trekking Barefoot Down East Coast Will Come Through NH

HAMPTON, NH—A soldier who is walking barefoot from Maine to North Carolina to raise money for gene therapy treatment for his daughter will pass through New Hampshire on Thursday.

Army Major Chris Brannigan of Great Britain is raising money and awareness for his nine-year-old daughter Hasti, according to a news release. Hasti was diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, a rare genetic condition, in 2018.

Brannigan is trekking barefoot from Bar Harbor, Maine to Jacksonville, North Carolina. He reached Portsmouth on Wednesday and will pass through Hampton and Topsfield on Thursday before reaching Massachusetts.

Track Major Brannigan's progress here.

Cornelia de lange Syndrome, or CdLS, is a genetic disorder that can cause "a broad range of potential physical, cognitive, and medical challenges."

Major Brannigan and his wife Hengameh are raising money to pay for gene therapy research at the Jackson Laboratory in Maine; Brannigan said on Facebook that he needs to raise 2.5 million pounds, or about $3.46 million, to fund clinical trials and possible treatment for Hasti and other kids with CdLs. No cure or treatment exists for the disease, according to the family's GoFundMe page.