Darius Goes West
Exploring America and Friendship

When you meet Darius Weems, who is living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), you quickly learn that the most important thing to remember about Darius is not his DMD, but how he is living.

Darius is a 15-year-old boy with all the interests of a typical teenager: video games, sports and girls. Two years ago, he had never traveled far from his home of Athens, GA. In fact, Darius had never been outside the borders of Georgia until he and a group of friends decided the time had come to see America and have the experience of a lifetime. So, with a wheelchair accessible recreational vehicle, 11 friends, and a modest supply of film and audio equipment, Darius embarked on a 7,000-mile journey across the country. The result was the documentary film "Darius Goes West." It was also much more.

The dozen friends hit the road in the summer of 2005, with an ultimate goal in mind of meeting the producers of MTV's program "Pimp my Ride" in Los Angeles. But between Athens and LA was an entire country to explore and they were determined to have as many adventures and experience as much of America as they possibly could along the way. It is the success of that venture, meeting different people, in different places, and trying different things, that is portrayed in "Darius Goes West." The film shows how the group formed a strong bond as they shared diverse experiences as they made their way around the United States.

"It was something I'll never forget. We saw so many incredible things and met so many great people," said Darius. While the cross-country trip was filled with memorable moments, Darius was able to pinpoint a couple personal highlights. "Las Vegas was really something. I'd never seen anything like that before. Plus I won $60," he said. "And then there was the Grand Canyon. You see that on TV sometimes, but when you're there in person and you can see how deep it is, and how far it goes, that's a whole different thing."

Darius recalled planning the adventure, admitting he was skeptical of the idea at first, but his friend Logan Smalley, who also arranged the trip and filmed "Darius Goes West," convinced him that it was an opportunity not to be missed. Darius and Logan met nearly 10 years ago, when Logan was a teen volunteer at a summer camp for children with special needs. The two have been friends ever since and that friendship has developed in recent years. "As I've gotten a little older, Logan and I have become closer and better friends," said Darius. "He's been an important person in my life. He believes anything is possible and is always encouraging me at everything." It was that positive attitude that persuaded Darius to set out with 11 other guys and see the country.

Their shared adventure is being shown at film festivals across the country this year, and is garnering plenty of attention and its share of accolades along the way. "Darius Goes West" received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in Santa Barbara, CA; the Oxford Film Festival in Oxford, MS; Omaha Film Festival in Omaha, NE; and the Cleveland International Film Festival in Cleveland, OH, where it was also named Best Documentary. For more information about the film, visit www.dariusgoeswest.com. Click on "Showings" for information about upcoming film festivals.

While the stated goal from the outset of appearing on "Pimp My Ride" with his Jazzy 1170 didn't go exactly as planned, Darius said by then it had become far more about the journey than about the destination. "The time we spent together, the things we did, the way we all got to be so close, that was the big thing," said Darius. As for his Jazzy, Darius said it serves him well, allowing him to pursue life to its fullest, without hesitation. "The Jazzy has been good for me," he said. "It's been a lot of places with me and I've always been able to count on it."

All profits from "Darius Goes West" are being donated to a non-profit organization called "Charley's Fund," which directs money to scientists trying to find a cure for DMD. This is unique because most DMD organizations raise funds simply to help with the enormous costs of living with the disease. According to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, researchers are pursuing several directions in search of a way to halt or reverse the muscle destruction of DMD. For more information, visit www.charleysfund.com and www.mda.org. Right now, 100-percent of DMD patients lose mobility by their early teens and the disease is always fatal, usually before age 20.

It is that goal that Darius keeps firmly in the front of his mind. "I'm not trying to help myself," he said, acknowledging what DMD means to him, with no hint of self pity. "I'm trying to help the next generation of kids, so they can live longer and more comfortably and hopefully find a cure someday."