In Glenwood, Colo., the crew enjoyed a two-hour whitewater rafting expedition courtesy of native Athenian Lindsey Weber.

In the summer of 2005, 12 young men rented an RV and left Athens on a 7,000-mile, cross-country journey to California and MTV’s “Pimp My Ride.” Led by Logan Smalley (BSEd ’06), their goal was a wheelchair makeover for Darius Weems, an Athens high school student born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Smalley met Weems while serving as a counselor at Project REACH, a summer camp for children with special needs. Ten years later he hatched the idea to “pimp” Darius’ wheelchair while also

In Temecula, Calif., Athens high school student Darius Weems soared high above wine country in a wheelchair-accessible hot air balloon. Weems has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a terminal disease that claimed the life of his older brother, Mario, at the age of 19.

taking him on his first road trip out of Georgia. Highlights included seeing the Grand Canyon and playing in the Pacific as well as visiting the set of “Desperate Housewives,” where they met star Felicity Huffman and her husband, actor William H. Macy. Along the way Smalley and the crew filmed their adventures, now preserved in the documentary “Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life.” After screening the film in Athens in January Smalley headed to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where the film won the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary. Screenings are scheduled at eight other festivals. Proceeds from the film will benefit DMD research.

Weems and Logan Smalley (BSEd ’06) enjoyed the view at the Grand Canyon, one of the highlights of the three-week road trip.

For more information, visit www.dariusgoeswest.com.

Weems and UGA student Ben Smalley enjoyed a blustery day at the beach in San Francisco, where the crew also visited the zoo and the Golden Gate bridge.

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