Visiting an Atlanta School, a Maryland Conference, and a DC Baseball Game
June 22, 2009
Quote of the Day: “This is great!”—Jason, weighed down with $75 worth of food and drinks, at a Washington Nationals baseball game.
Next up, the DGW crew struck for a visit to Atlanta’s Lovett High School, then to Washington DC for another visit at the nation’s capital.
A few of the guys stuck around Athens to help Darius get around to doctor visits and do on-line work. Without Darius leading us, it was a bit tougher, but we said good-bye for the next few weeks, knowing we’d be back to see him soon.
Organizing the Atlanta trip was Robert Sewell, with lots of help from his cousin in Athens, Margaret Gaby, who’s been a huge DGW advocate herself at Athens Academy.
Robert organized the screening as part of his Eagle Scout badge project.
He did an incredible job!
The students, faculty, and community members were motivated by Robert’s powerful example to take up Darius’s cause, and the night screening at Lovett was a huge success.
The next morning, we were back at Lovett to visit a few classrooms.
Throughout our stay, Robert was a great host, making us feel at home and taking up his school’s initiative to sell DGW merchandise for fundraising. Thanks, Robert and Lovett! Major props to Coca-Cola for the super-nice hotel rooms in Buckhead…and to Robert’s mom, Kim, for making sure we didn’t go hungry!
After our Lovett visit, we booked it to Hunt Valley, Maryland, for a speaking engagement at the ARC conference.
There, through Collin’s technological prowess…
Darius joined us via video chat!
The crowd was great, and everyone got a thrill out of seeing Darius, once again on a big screen. Thanks, Sarah Sorensen and the ARC conference, for making it happen!
The next day, we headed to Washington DC for a screening at the venerable Sixth and I Historic Synagogue.
The Sixth and I is legendary for its cultural events. Speakers usually sign part of the inside wall and leave a brief message…
and now DGW is part of the tradition!
The auditorium area was breath-taking…
and host Aaron Weintraub did a great job of getting folks out. It was an honor. Thank you, Aaron and Sixth and I!
The next day, Lauren Smith (lower row, center) hooked us up with tickets to a Nationals game!
Of course, the train ride to meet her at the stadium was a bit awkward, as each of us pretended to not know the others.
Once at the park, though, we all had a blast! Lauren had been at the Sixth and I screening. She knew about Darius Goes West before, and when she heard we were coming back through, she coordinated with the Nationals Dream Foundation to snag these awesome tickets.
Lauren wanted to help us “do something fun and relaxed where you don’t have to be worried about selling.” Thank you!
The Nats, after leading the game until the 9th inning, didn’t pull out the win…
but, thanks to Lauren and DC’s great hospitality, we felt like winners!
Of all the incredible places we’ve visited, the Atlanta and DC areas have been among the most welcoming, so it was great to start out this leg of the trip in these great places. Thank you, supporters!
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Accompanied by eleven best friends, Darius Weems, a fifteen-year-old living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), leaves home for the first time in his life. The rowdy crew sets a course for California where they hope to convince MTV to customize Darius's wheelchair on the hit show, Pimp My Ride. Darius Goes West has been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people of all ages all around the world.
The Movement
Darius Goes West is more than a film. The continuing story of Darius, his crew, and the tens of thousands of supporters they have met in their travels can be experienced on this website. This site is continually updated with short videos, blog posts, and innovative initiatives that aim to affect a cure for DMD.
DGW is a registered 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization. All proceeds benefit Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research.
your baseball hook-up in D.C. was arranged by someone of rare heart and compassion. A compassion that has been forged by her own brave fight through cancer. I am more than proud to call Lauren Smith my niece.