On March 31, sisters Brittany and Stephanie Newman will participate in the National Walk for Epilepsy, a 5K walk at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for their second year after the death of their younger brother. 

The Newmans created a group for the walk called “Joshua’s Smile” to honor Joshua Newman who died Nov. 20, 2010 at the age of 12, because of SUDEP, or Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy.

“We named it ‘Joshua’s Smile’ because one thing everyone remembered about him was that his smile was contagious,” said Joshua’s sister sophomore Stephanie Newman.

Newman remembers her brother’s cheerful personality, one that attracted many friends. Friends of Joshua joined the Joshua’s Smile group at last year’s walk.

“A lot of his elementary school friends came to the last walk,” said Newman. “We were the second largest group there.”

Senior Brittany Newman also recalls his bright personality.

“On his stone, it says that he never knew a stranger,” said Newman. “I remember we would sit in the mall and he would just start talking to people.”

Since Joshua’s death, the Newman family has grown closer than ever before.

“I know I’m closer to my mom,” said Brittany Newman. “Joshua always wanted to do stuff as a family, so now we do.”

Last year “Joshua’s Smile” raised $12,000 for the National Epilepsy Foundation. This year, the group aims to raise $8,000. It has already raised $2,625.