About us
who are we?
Kate Kostolansky
Founder & CEO of Brave Bears Club
Brave Bears Club was founded by Kate Kostolansky, a mom, advocate, and storyteller from Exeter, New Hampshire. Kate lives with her husband Brett, their two children — Charlotte and Theodore — and one lovable but very mischievous Newfoundland poodle, Grizzly Rose.
When Charlotte was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, Kate quickly realized how isolating, confusing, and overwhelming a rare epilepsy diagnosis can be. Determined to shed light on this condition and create resources that didn’t exist for her own family, she leaned into her “mama bear” instincts. What began as one mother’s late-night notes has grown into a movement helping families across the country feel less alone.
who are we?
Kate Kostolansky
Founder & CEO of Brave Bears Club
This is Kate’s first children’s book and she likens it to quintessential motherhood where you have no experience, are in over your head but, somehow wing it anyways! She is publishing with that same spirit - plenty of self-doubt outweighed by lots of love!
Along the way, Kate has connected with incredible families and leaders in the epilepsy
space, forming meaningful community partnerships with organizations across North America
and the UK. She has spoken at national events, walked alongside families at epilepsy
awareness walks, shared her story on podcasts and panels, and built lifelong friendships born from some of the hardest moments. Her work extends beyond Brave Bears into board service and advocacy roles, always with one focus: doing good work for children and families who deserve better.
Today, Brave Bears Club partners with hospitals, nonprofits, and families nationwide, delivering
books, comfort bears, EEG kits, and child-friendly education resources in more than 65
hospitals.
Our mission in the Brave Bears Club is to empower children with epilepsy through educational and inclusive resources that provide comfort and representation.
Our long term goals are to
Help
both children and adults better understand and identify Infantile Spasms and epilepsy.
Support
families on their medical journeys and give them unique resources they wouldn’t otherwise be offered.
Change
the conversation around epilepsy and increase awareness and reduce stigma.
By fostering understanding and inclusivity, we strive to make a positive impact on the epilepsy community.
Book Kate (Speaking & Engagements)
Alongside building Brave Bears Club, Kate has shared her story on stages, podcasts, panels, and in classrooms — speaking on the realities of epilepsy, motherhood, and community building. Her talks are heartfelt, practical, and rooted in lived experience. Whether she’s speaking to parents, clinicians, nonprofits, or students, Kate’s goal is always the same: to help people feel less alone and more empowered.
Signature Talks
● Brave Looks Different: Parenting Through Fear, Diagnosis, and the Unknown
● The Worst Club, Best Cubs: Building a Movement from a Mom’s Notes App
● Making Pediatric Epilepsy Less Scary: Tools That Actually Work
● From Helpless to Helpful: How to Show Up for Medical Moms (Even When You Don’t
Know What to Say)
School & Classroom Visits
Kate also visits schools and classrooms, offering child-friendly, meaningful, and engaging ways to talk about epilepsy. These sessions use books, bears, and storytelling to spark empathy and inclusion among students.
Speaker Kit & Booking
For booking inquiries, please email kate@bravebearsclub.com directly.
Origin story
Char Bear Keeps Dancing was born out of a mother’s love, determination, and a hope for a better experience for other families receiving similar diagnoses.
“When my daughter, Charlotte, was diagnosed with Infantile spasms in August of 2022, my husband Brett and I were devastated and confused. In a whirlwind of within 24 hours, we went from casually exploring a seemingly benign body movement, to being admitted to an inpatient neurology service unit. At the time, I was 8 months pregnant with our second child. My husband forced me to stay at my parent’s house nearby to sleep that night while he remained with Charlotte.
Of course, I didn't get any sleep.
I spent the entire night reading everything I possibly could related to the type of pediatric epilepsy known as “Infantile Spasms.” Reading about the unpredictable future and the possible coinciding developmental impact was terrifying. Despite working in the healthcare industry, I was struck by the fact that the information available for public consumption online was largely outdated, negative or non-existent.”
How the “Brave Bears Club” was born
“The “story” about Char Bear was initially written as a note in my phone with the hope to explain, at a basic level, what was going on to Charlotte’s teachers and classmates. As I connected with families, mostly moms of other IS kids through various social media platforms, it was clear that accurate and positive materials available were greatly lacking. There was little information on pediatric epilepsy, but even less on Infantile Spasms. The more I continued to learn and the more families I connected with, the more this idea grew.”