Family means everything to Seahawks rookie running back Zach Charbonnet, so much so that when transferring colleges, he took into consideration how close he'd be to family once he transferred.
During 2019, Charbonnet was at the University of Michigan which is over 2,000 miles away from his hometown of Los Angeles. And one reason he decided to transfer to UCLA was to lessen that distance.
"I would definitely say it was a big part of my decision to come home, Bella was a big part of it too, especially during COVID," he said.
Family means so much that he dedicated his cause for My Cause My Cleats this season to his younger sister, Bella.
Bella has Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects 1 in every 10,000 births and Charbonnet is supporting the Williams Syndrome Association with his cleats.
While checking out his cleats for the first time Charbonnet said the organization means a lot to him and his family.
"It's cool to be able to represent [Williams Syndrome Association] for my family. It will definitely be a big moment and opportunity to represent," Charbonnet said.
Williams Syndrome is a lesser-known genetic disorder. Charbonnet said in his experience growing up, it's not something that you hear about often. He said that if he didn't have a sister that had Williams Syndrome, he probably wouldn't be familiar with it.
"That's one of my missions to just continue to spread awareness on [Williams Syndrome]."
One of his cleats has the Williams Syndrome Association's logo, which is a blue and green hand with a red heart above them, and the other cleat has the association's name. Charbonnet says that just having the name on the cleat is very important to him and his family.
Charbonnet explained that Williams Syndrome sometimes can affect the cardiovascular system and causes delays in cognitive development. But he explained that people with the syndrome can also have an affinity for music.
16-year-old Bella's favorite music? Backstreet Boys.
"Every time I go home, she's blasting it at 6 a.m. every day," Charbonnet laughed.
When asked if Bella liked the Backstreet Boys more than NSYNC, Charbonnet asked "Who?" He'd never heard of the popular boy group and joked that the only reason he knew about the Backstreet Boys was through Bella.
But music isn't the only thing that he's learned from Bella. It's her positive outlook on everything in life.
"She always looks at the positive side of every single person. She definitely has the best interest at heart," Charbonnet said.
When asked about his favorite memory that he has with his sister, he couldn't choose just one but said that her smile is his favorite.
"Her smile is really infectious. She always lights up the room wherever she is, especially in big crowds," he said.
She has yet to experience the loud and big crowd at Lumen Field, but Charbonnet says she will be coming to a game very soon.
"She loves to come out there and support me," Charbonnet said.
"Regardless of the outcome, after every game she just tells me how much she loves me, how fun it was and how much she enjoyed it. And I really appreciate that from her."
Check out the custom-designed cleats for this years My Cause My Cleat. Some players will wear their cleats during the Week 13 Thursday Night game at Dallas.
Drew Lock is supporting Mission Outdoors for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Michael Dickson is supporting FSHD Global for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Geno Smith is supporting 7 Sunday Heroes Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Coby Bryant is supporting Footprints of Fight for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Coby Bryant is supporting Footprints of Fight for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Kenneth Walker III is supporting NAMI & Honoring Friend Devin for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Kenneth Walker III is supporting NAMI & Honoring Friend Devin for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Uchenna Nwosu is supporting Uchenna Nwosu Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is supporting Little Warrior Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
DK Metcalf is supporting Prison Fellowship for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
DK Metcalf is supporting Prison Fellowship for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jake Bobo is supporting Team Georgie Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Tre Brown is supporting Nick of Time Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Kenny McIntosh is supporting Seattle Children's Autsim Center for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Zach Charbonnet is supporting Williams Syndrome Association for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Zach Charbonnet is supporting Williams Syndrome Association for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Michael Jackson is supporting The Race Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Deejay Dallas is supporting The Deejay Dallas Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jerrick Reed II is supporting Tomorrow Needs You Scholarship Fund for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jerrick Reed II is supporting Tomorrow Needs You Scholarship Fund for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Christopher Stoll is supporting Uplifting Athletes for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Nick Bellore is supporting David Warsen Legacy for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Nick Bellore is supporting David Warsen Legacy for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Darrell Taylor is supporting Pink Lemonade Project for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Bobby Wagner is supporting FAST54 for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Bobby Wagner is supporting FAST54 for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Dre'mont Jones is supporting American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Ohio for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Derick Hall is supporting Derick Hall 1% Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Derick Hall is supporting Derick Hall 1% Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jon Rhattigan is supporting Mission 22 for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Phil Haynes is supporting Haven Hills Foster Care Community for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Phil Haynes is supporting Haven Hills Foster Care Community for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
McClendon Curtis is supporting YMCA Y-Cap for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
McClendon Curtis is supporting YMCA Y-Cap for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Charles Cross is supporting NAMI - Mississippi for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Charles Cross is supporting NAMI - Mississippi for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Abraham Lucas is supporting Society of St Vincent DePaul for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jake Curhan is supporting Camp Young Judaea for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jake Curhan is supporting Camp Young Judaea for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Raiqwon O'Neal is supporting Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center & Stephanie's Lifeline H.O.P.E for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Raiqwon O'Neal is supporting Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center & Stephanie's Lifeline H.O.P.E for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Dareke Young is supporting The Lupus Foundation of America for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Dareke Young is supporting The Lupus Foundation of America for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Colby Parkinson is supporting Children's Hunger Fund & Northwest Parkinson's Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Colby Parkinson is supporting Children's Hunger Fund & Northwest Parkinson's Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Will Dissly is supporting Seattle Humane Society for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Tyreke Smith is supporting Jed Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Myles Adams is supporting Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Myles Adams is supporting Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Blitz is supporting Kicks4Kids for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Blitz is supporting Kicks4Kids for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
The Seahawks Dancers are supporting Broadview Domestic Violence Shelter for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Pete Carroll is supporting Midnight Basketball Program for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Pete Carroll is supporting Midnight Basketball Program for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
John Schneider is supporting Ben's Fund for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Cliff Avril, Doug Baldwin & Michael Bennett are supporting Champions of Change for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Shane Waldron is supporting Angelman Syndrome Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Walter Jones is supporting American Cancer Society for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Neiko Thorpe is supporting Alhzeimer's Association for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Neiko Thorpe is supporting Alhzeimer's Association for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Sanjay Lal is supporting OHIO SPCA for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Mario Bailey is supporting Parents of Murdered Children for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Mario Bailey is supporting Parents of Murdered Children for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
