We Carry Kevan: remember when a group of friends carried their wheelchair-using friend in a backpack around otherwise inaccessible parts of Europe? Well now the companions have set their sights on China.
Kevan and friends plan to visit orphanages designed to care for children with disabilities
In the spring of 2016, Kevan Chandler‘s plan to backpack through Europe with his friends became an international news sensation because of his unique mode of transportation: Kevan, who lives with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2, would be carried in a backpack. This August, Kevan and his friends will be heading off to China for two weeks. In addition to seeing famous sites like the Great Wall and the Shaolin Temple, Kevan and his friends plan to make stops at several orphanages designed specifically to care for children with disabilities. And Kevan and his friends need your help.
Kevan and his friends hope to demonstrate that life is full of possibility and hope
Two years ago, Kevan Chandler and his friends decided to backpack through Europe. The catch? Kevan, who typically relies on a wheelchair to get around, was the backpack. They left Kevan’s wheelchair at the airport and the friends carried him for three weeks in a specially designed backpack. The companions hiked the English countryside, climbed the island of Skellig Michael, and explored Paris from one end to the other.
Kevan said “It was an amazing experience, and we’ve since had the joy of sharing our story to inspire and challenge audiences all over the world. We’ve also started a nonprofit called We Carry Kevan, to provide backpacks and help others find ways to have similar experiences, both locally and abroad.”
Now, the friends are ready to explore another part of the wide world — China! This time they are joining with Show Hope on this adventure. Show Hope is an organisation that serves orphans with disabilities, with care centers set up throughout China. Their aim with visiting these care centers is to deliver their custom Deuter backpacks for their use, and to be an encouragement to the children, as well as the staff and their surrounding communities.
In meeting with these children and their caregivers, Kevan and his friends hope to demonstrate that life is full of possibility and hope.
We all have limitations, say the group, but through creativity, courage, and community, we can move beyond those limitations and embrace our full potential.
As the friends travel between centres, they will also take the opportunity to see such historic sights as the Shaolin Temple, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall.
But they need your help to make this happen, by giving financially to the endeavor (via GoFundMe), and raising awareness with them. Join them, too, by following along on social media: Facebook, Instagram. They will be visiting Guilin, Luoyang, and Beijing.
“We want you to be part of the experience, part of the story. You are invited to help "carry Kevan" and in doing so, carry so many more.”
Click to see our article on We Carry Kevan around Europe. Watch below, the “We Carry Kevan: China” GoFundMe campaign video.
Source: GoFundMe/WeCarryKevan
“I’m reminded every day that this all has very little to do with me,” Kevan says
“I’ve been surrounded by so many amazing people who make stuff happen, and there are a lot of people out there we want to interact with. So, most of the time, I just feel like I’m along for the ride and really blessed to be part of such a cool adventure. Our trip to Europe was about carrying me, fulfilling my dream to see Europe, but the nonprofit and this trip to China–everything we do now–is about so much more than me, and for the record, I wouldn’t have it any other way!” — Kevan Chandler
Source: StronglyMDA
Who are Show Hope?
There are currently more than 140 million orphans around the world — Every 18 seconds another child is orphaned.
Show Hope was founded in 2003 by Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth. The organisation was built on a bible passage (James 1:27), a verse in which God calls on mankind to care and provide for orphans.
The Chapmans knew however, that money was going to become a major factor within the adoption process. By raising awareness and gathering donations, Show Hope’s goal is to provide families with adoption aid as well as give the orphans in their care centers medical treatment.
Show Hope currently has five care centers throughout China and hopes to continue caring for as many children as they can.
Source: ShowHope.org
DONATE TODAY TO WE CARRY KEVAN: CHINA
The trip, Kevan estimates, will cost $40,000 for airfare, visas, accommodations and meals for a four-person carrying crew, two filmmakers, a translator, a guide and, of course, Kevan himself.