MONROE - Thanks to the persistence of one Monroe Middle School class that routinely views a documentary about Darius Weems, a young man with duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Weems has decided to pay a visit to Monroe.
Darius Weems, 24, was diagnosed with the fatal disease when he was very young but is known for never allowing it to slow him down. He and some friends filmed the documentary "Darius Goes West," about Weems' trip to California to have his wheelchair "pimped out" by the MTV show "Pimp My Ride." Weems, of Athens, Ga., is also a rap artist and is set to perform and speak to Monroe middle and high school students Thursday at Monroe High School.
Weems could not be contacted because he is busy talking to schools around the nation, but his manager Barbara Smalley spoke on his behalf. Smalley said that because of the degenerative effects of his disease, Weems is not able to travel often. DMD affects about one in 3,600 boys, which causes muscle degeneration and eventually death. The disease can be carried by both sexes, but women rarely show signs of the disease. Most children gradually lose muscle control until they are completely wheelchair dependent, typically by age 12. Weems' brother Mario also had the disease and died before he could graduate from high school.
Wendy Dyrhaug teaches a class called "Project World" at Monroe Middle School and shows her students Weems' documentary each quarter. She said her students have gleaned a profound impact from the film and are excited Weems is coming to Monroe. One of her students, Carlita Eberle, said in an email, "Darius doesn't let his disability get to him."
"The young adults of this generation need to become more like Darius," Eberle said.
Weems and his crew of friends that shot and edited the documentary spent a year on the road after the film, visiting schools and hosting screenings across the country. Smalley said once Weems heard about how his film influenced students in Monroe, they had to come visit. She said he loves performing and speaking at small venues.
"Those are really his favorite places, aside from New York, because he loves a shoe store there," Smalley said.
Weems unfortunately will not be bringing his "pimped out" chair because he had to lose a lot of weight for his health, and the chair is too big for him now. Smalley said Weems works to raise awareness and accept donations for a cure to DMD. To date they have raised about $2.5 million for research into drugs to combat the disease.
The school is selling T-shirts for $10 to raise money for the cause. The T-shirts will get you into the show for free and have the insignia "Darius Goes Wisconsin," in bold across an outline of the state.
Smalley said Weems is excited to come and hopes to spread his message.
"He likes to tell people, "Live life like you're living,' and he likes to live like that every day," she said.
Darius Weems, 24, was diagnosed with the fatal disease when he was very young but is known for never allowing it to slow him down. He and some friends filmed the documentary "Darius Goes West," about Weems' trip to California to have his wheelchair "pimped out" by the MTV show "Pimp My Ride." Weems, of Athens, Ga., is also a rap artist and is set to perform and speak to Monroe middle and high school students Thursday at Monroe High School.
Weems could not be contacted because he is busy talking to schools around the nation, but his manager Barbara Smalley spoke on his behalf. Smalley said that because of the degenerative effects of his disease, Weems is not able to travel often. DMD affects about one in 3,600 boys, which causes muscle degeneration and eventually death. The disease can be carried by both sexes, but women rarely show signs of the disease. Most children gradually lose muscle control until they are completely wheelchair dependent, typically by age 12. Weems' brother Mario also had the disease and died before he could graduate from high school.
Wendy Dyrhaug teaches a class called "Project World" at Monroe Middle School and shows her students Weems' documentary each quarter. She said her students have gleaned a profound impact from the film and are excited Weems is coming to Monroe. One of her students, Carlita Eberle, said in an email, "Darius doesn't let his disability get to him."
"The young adults of this generation need to become more like Darius," Eberle said.
Weems and his crew of friends that shot and edited the documentary spent a year on the road after the film, visiting schools and hosting screenings across the country. Smalley said once Weems heard about how his film influenced students in Monroe, they had to come visit. She said he loves performing and speaking at small venues.
"Those are really his favorite places, aside from New York, because he loves a shoe store there," Smalley said.
Weems unfortunately will not be bringing his "pimped out" chair because he had to lose a lot of weight for his health, and the chair is too big for him now. Smalley said Weems works to raise awareness and accept donations for a cure to DMD. To date they have raised about $2.5 million for research into drugs to combat the disease.
The school is selling T-shirts for $10 to raise money for the cause. The T-shirts will get you into the show for free and have the insignia "Darius Goes Wisconsin," in bold across an outline of the state.
Smalley said Weems is excited to come and hopes to spread his message.
"He likes to tell people, "Live life like you're living,' and he likes to live like that every day," she said.