Where will your first brave step take you?

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We have reached the final chapter of our story.

Curiosity began our year.

Adventure stretched it.

Joy brightened it.

And bravery is what carries it forward.

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This year reminded us of something important: Bravery is not loud or flashy. It’s not a single moment. Bravery is a way of moving through the world, one small step at a time.

It’s believing in what’s possible even when the path is not fully clear.

We founded Brave Like Me because of Brayden, a boy who loved books, adventures, and his pets. He showed us how to live with joy and wonder and courage. 

This story started with our family, but it no longer belongs to us. It has grown and evolved in incredible ways. Now, it’s about you: every volunteer who has pitched in; every corporate partner who has said yes before they knew exactly how to help; every donor who has helped fund our programs; every parent who has trusted us with their kid’s story; every child who has let us walk beside them. Brave Like Me’s future belongs to all of us.

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Next year, we are stepping into our bravest chapter yet. We have some really big dreams, like:

• Reaching 200 Ronald McDonald House locations and thousands more families.
• Expanding Brave Friends into new cities and hosting more Adventures.
• Building additional Pet Reunion Centers so we can operate in multiple locations. 

Through it all, our Brave Family will grow. One curious, adventurous, joyful, and brave step at a time. 

As we close out 2025, we hope you’ll ask yourself “What if I follow my curiosity and take a brave step forward?”

Maybe your next adventure is waiting. Maybe your bravery will inspire someone else to take their first brave step. After all, we never know until we ask.

Be Brave! 

From our family to yours,

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John Otten 

CEO and Co-Founder, Brave Like Me Foundation

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Join our monthly giving community, The Unbreakable Village, and commit to supporting kids with complex medical conditions all year long in 2026.

Want to give your support in other ways? Sign up to be a Brave Builder and volunteer with us.

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