College Times

Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy Darius Weems

When Darius Weems was younger, he could walk and run just like other kids in his home town of Athens, Georgia. But, when he was 5, he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy – a genetic degenerative disorder that affects the muscular structure in his body. From that point on, he was confined to a wheelchair with limited mobility.

After losing his 19-year-old brother to the same disease several years ago, he realized one of his goals in life: to highlight wheelchair accessibility around America. And also get his wheelchair pimped by Xzibit and the MTV crew of “Pimp My Ride.”

The latter endeavor Weems wasn’t so successful in making happen. However, he, along with his best friend Logan Smalley, traveled the nation, raising awareness about DMD and the wheelchair-bound population in America. Darius and Logan captured the journey on film and turned it into a documentary called “Darius Goes West.”

Still entangled in a press tour about the film, Darius and Logan spoke with College Times about their adventures by way of e-mail.

College Times: Can you tell us about your disease?

Darius Weems: My disease is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). When I was young I could run around just like all the other kids. When I was about 13 I was full time in my wheelchair because my muscles would not allow me to walk anymore. (Researchers) have known the cause of DMD since 1987. There are a lot of studies going on right now that are showing a lot of promise. Some are even in human clinical trials. The science is booming right now and we are trying to affect this disease as quickly as possible so all of this promising research will not stop because there is not enough money.

Why did you decide to take a trip and make a film about it?

Logan Smalley: Our goals were to promote awareness for DMD and wheelchair accessibility, show Darius the US and pimp Darius’s wheelchair on MTV’s “Pimp My Ride.” The last goal would inform a generation of kids about the number one genetic killer of children in the world (DMD). MTV missed their chance, so now we are trying to do it ourselves by touring with the movie and trying to sell a million copies of the DVD in one year.

Tells us about the DVD.

Smalley: To this date, we have sold a little over 22,000 DVDs. We have a long way to go, but the snowball is beginning to roll.

What impact do you think the trip is having?

We think the trip is having a tremendous impact. We have already reached thousands of people around the US and raised over 1.5 million dollars for Charley’s Fund.

What was it like to get out of your home town and see the rest of the country?

Weems: It was so cool to see something like the Grand Canyon in a book and then get to see it in real life.

Smalley: I had never been on a road trip like that, basically being in a different city every day. Also, it was cool to be with Darius. I had only ever seen him at school, his house or at the movies. On the trip, I saw him at the Grand Canyon, in a hot air balloon and at the beach for the first time.

 

Logan, Darius’ brother Mario told you to watch over him. Why do you think he told you that?

Smalley: Well, I have known Darius since he was 5, and, before Mario passed away, he saw I had an older brother-type relationship with Darius. I think he knew that Darius needed a male role model. I was glad to take the responsibility.

What is one piece of advice you would give our readers about achieving their goals, since you’re in the process of achieving yours now?

Weems: No matter what the obstacles, if you put your mind toward a goal you can achieve it. If I can do it, you can do it.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools