National Hero Visits Sachem High School North and East
 
On October 16 & 17, Darius Weems touched the hearts of 1500 Sachem High School Health Education students and raised awareness for a debilitating form of muscular dystrophy.  Darius and his production crew of college students made a surprise visit to Sachem North and Sachem East high schools. Joining Darius was Javier, an adorable 4-year-old also afflicted with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
 
“Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life” is an award-winning documentary film, starring Darius, then 15 years old. In an effort to have a popular MTV show customize his wheelchair, Weems and his dedicated group of friends organized an expedition via RV from Athens, Georgia to Los Angeles, California. The aim of the film and the presentation was to raise awareness for DMD as well as highlight wheelchair accessibility throughout the United States.  
 
The film, “Darius Goes West” was shown in Health Education classes prior to the assembly presentation. In-depth health discussion of the film set the groundwork for developing empathy skills when considering tolerance, caregiver issues and application of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  It was evident from Darius’ overwhelming reception that his message will be indelibly engrained in the hearts and minds of Sachem’s students.   
 
The Sachem student body presented a $2,000 donation to Darius and his production crew in support of their cause. As one student so eloquently wrote in class, “Through Darius’ struggle living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a terminal condition, people are exposed to the magnitude of others’ hardships and are able to understand how minute the nuisances that they complain about tend to be.” 
 
Darius was joined with Javier Romero, a four-year old Stony Brook native who also suffers from DMD.  The Long Island tour is intended to not only inform people about the life of those with DMD, but also to promote the awareness of the charity organization started by Javier’s parents, Hope For Javier, which raises money for DMD research.
 
Photo: The Sachem student body presented a $2,000 donation to Darius and his production crew in support of their cause.