These Young People Traveled The World With Their Disabled Friend In Tow
Often times, true friendship is defined as the sacrifice we make to complement the needs of someone we hold dear. In this case, the miracle of friendship is perfectly described between Kevan Chandler, 29, and his friends Tom Troyer, Philip Keller, Benjamin Duvall and Luke Thompson.
When this group of American friends made plans to vacation in Europe, they thought that leaving their friend Kevan Chandler was not an option, knowing that traveling the world had been the dream of a lifetime.
His friends decided that nothing could truncate Kevan’s dreams.
Kevan Chandler is a writer who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, a degenerative disease that, in addition to pain, causes muscle weakness and inability to walk.
Although this disease deprived him of some physical faculties, it did not take away his desire to see the world and experience adventures in new places.
Kevan gets around in a wheelchair, but there are some places he can’t get to. This was no problem for his group of friends, who decided to customize a backpack with a padded seat and back to hold Kevan all the way, taking turns carrying the 30 kilos he weighs.
His first adventure was in 2015, when his friends were planning a field trip to North Carolina.
Given his condition, Kevan thought he would not be able to accompany them. However, his friends had another idea: they put him in a backpack and took him with them to explore.
This first trip was a success, so they wanted to go further and decided to take a trip to Europe, where Kevan could visit places previously unthinkable for him.
They would tour gardens, catacombs, monasteries, and natural landscapes.
Overcome obstacles to achieve your dreams
Kevan’s friends feel that his muscular dystrophy doesn’t make his dreams any smaller or bigger than other people’s.
So in addition to designing a backpack for Kevan and a plan to carry all the things he needs to survive, they launched a fundraising campaign through GoFundMe.
Thus they would be able (and in fact, they managed to) collect the necessary money to carry out their great adventure.
They also documented their trip on the We Carry Kevan blog and on the WeCarryKevan Instagram account, where you can see photos of all the tours.
They also promise to present a documentary with all their experiences soon.
The teachings of his adventure
This group of friends embarked on a journey through Europe and saw fantastic places in England, France, and Ireland.
Kevan wanted to see the catacombs, gardens, and monasteries, sites that would normally be inaccessible to him. For 19 days they were touring Europe where they saw beautiful landscapes, mountains, incredible cities and magical sunsets.
However, not everything was easy, as they had to physically prepare to bear Kevan’s weight and he in turn had to give up the independence that his wheelchair gives him and trust his friends.
Kevan claims that it’s not just about him, but about the entire group. Critically important to him is the fact that he has never been alone in life and that every challenge, achievement and fall has given him the courage to get back on his feet.
“Every step of the way, I have had my family, my friends and God. Know that my strength comes from there (the strength of each one of us!).
I hope I give them strength too, because that’s the point, to give each other courage. Join us. This life is lived together. Together we become stronger and more courageous ”, reflects Kevan.
A source of inspiration
View this post on InstagramHave a great weekend, everyone!
With the story of this incredible journey and this beautiful friendship, Kevan aims to be a source of inspiration for other disabled people around the world.
He wants them to realize that there is no unattainable dream, and no obstacles that cannot be overcome. Definitely, the story of Kevan Chandler and his friends demonstrates the value of friendship.
It also teaches us that perseverance, positive attitude and willpower can help us to overcome all difficulties and achieve our dreams.
Images courtesy of Kevan Chandler.
