Our Mission Going Forward Is to Honor Braden': Ben Carson to Resume Campaign After Staffer's Tragic Death

Following the tragic death of one of his Iowa staffers, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is set to resume his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday "with a heavy heart."

Braden Joplin, 25, died early Tuesday morning in Iowa after being involved in a car crash with three other campaign volunteers when the driver of the van lost control and collided with another vehicle.

 (Getty Images/Alex Wong)

The others were treated and released from the hospital, but Joplin sustained more serious injuries and died Tuesday evening.

"Our mission going forward is to honor Braden as he embodied the spirit we carry forward, restoring the transformative power of We the People, unifying our nation with the inspirational vision of those who passionately love our country," Carson wrote on his Facebook page Wednesday afternoon.

"With a heavy heart, I will resume my campaign tomorrow," he continued. "I do so filled with the inspiration of Braden's life story."

Carson went on to write that Joplin "poured his heart into this campaign knowing this election was about something bigger than ourselves," adding that Joplin will be "lighting the way" as the campaign moves forward.

Read Carson's entire Facebook post below:

Our mission going forward is to honor Braden as he embodied the spirit we carry forward, restoring the transformative power of We the People, unifying our nation with the inspirational vision of those who passionately love our country.

With a heavy heart, I will resume my campaign tomorrow. I do so filled with the inspiration of Braden's life story. He poured his heart into this campaign knowing this election is about something bigger than ourselves – it's about returning this country back into the hands of We the People and He who guides our path.

We are made stronger when we remember who we are fighting for – for all that have walked before us, their presence still shines, lighting the way forward as we strive to accomplish our mission.

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