Florence Forth was started by Leslie and Will McDow who lost their daughter Florence on March 4th, 2012 after a long battle with autoimmune encephalitis. Florence was a healthy, vibrant 2 year old when the first symptoms of AE emerged. Over the next four years, the disease caused neurological complications and developmental delays. The search for a diagnosis and eventually a treatment lead us to realize the need for increased awareness, improved clinical care and expanded research.

Along with Florence’s sister Laura, the McDow’s named the race Florence Forth to commemorate the day that six-year-old Florence died – March Fourth. Inspired by “the day that is also a command,” they heard a charge to accelerate the search for a cure, provide care to affected families and form a community of collaboration and concern. It was through this command to Florence Forth that the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance was organized.