A 14-year-old Michigan boy is making headlines after setting out on a 40-mile trek on Saturday with his 7-year-old brother strapped to his back, in hopes of raising awareness about cerebral palsy.
Hunter Gandee started his journey from Bedford Junior High School at around 8 a.m. Saturday morning, with younger brother Braden, who suffers from the muscular condition, held securely on his back. By night, the amazing teen had already made it over halfway through his walk, about 25 miles away from home. They hope to arrive at their destination at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor by this afternoon. Wow…are these kids incredible or what?
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While carrying a 50-pound person on your back for dozens of miles is no easy feat, Hunter, a 155-pound wrestler, said he trained by lifting weights and staying active. The walk, called the Celebral Palsy Swagger, aims to grab the attention of doctors, leaders, and the public in general by showing them the face of cerebral palsy and the need for new treatments.
And so far, it's definitely working. Dozens of family, friends and community members showed up yesterday to cheer the Gandee brothers as they began the walk, with some releasing balloons into the sky to mark the commencement of their journey. Meanwhile, Hunter says that they've also already been contacted by the MLB team the Detroit Tigers, the lead singer of metal band Megadeth, and "bunches of different people" lending their support. That love and encouragement is what he says is helping push them through their journey.
I am honestly in awe of these kids' amazing efforts. It's inspiring enough that they'd want to dedicate their time and take action to raise awareness for such an important cause, but that Hunter would be willing to go the extra mile—literally—and do it in this way, in such an symbolic gesture of support for his brother…it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it! With their incredible dedication and the support of everyone around them, I am fully confident they'll be able to reach their goal.
Anyone interested in donating to the cause can contact the University of Michigan Cerebral Palsy Research Program.
Image via Detroit Free Press
