DATE: September 29, 2008
CONTACT:
Joan Borick, 864-656-2121
jborick@clemson.edu
WRITER:
Jessica Lance, 864-656-2061
jrlance@clemson.edu
'Darius Goes West' coming to Clemson
Brooks Center to show film about muscular dystrophy patient's journey
CLEMSON — A 19-year-old who is battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy but took a whirlwind trip across the country and made a movie about it will bring his story to Clemson University.
Darius Weems of Athens, Ga., and his “crew” — friends who accompanied him on his journey — will show his film “Darius Goes West” at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects mainly male children. It shows up at an early age and is fatal, usually before the age of 30. Weems’ brother Mario was 19 when the disease took his life.
When he was a freshman in high school, Weems and some close friends decided to make a trip around the United States, starting in Georgia with the intention of making it to West Coast Customs in California. West Coast Customs is the shop featured on MTV’s “Pimp My Ride,” a show that transforms old cars into something new and exciting. Weems and his friends hoped the shop would “pimp out” Weems’ wheelchair.
Weems and crew made the documentary about the journey and to raise awareness about the disease. The film won 28 independent film awards.
Joan Borick of Clemson’s development office decided to bring the film to Clemson after her high school Sunday school class reacted to the video in an unexpected way.
“The whole class loved it,” Borick said.
She contacted Barbra Smalley, mother of “Darius Goes West” director Logan Smalley, and “it snowballed into a community event.” She contacted Clemson’s City council, which supported her idea. Many student groups, including the Student Alumni Association and the department of parks, recreation and tourism management’s Rho Phi Lambda honors society, are helping sponsor the event.
“Everyone should see this film," Borick said. "Everyone will be touched in some way. This group of teenagers get that Darius needs help and they want to make sure he sees as much as he can.”
She hopes that this event will show Weems and his friends that Clemson knows and cares about the disease.
A meet and greet event with Weems and his crew will be from 5 to 7 p.m. in Catherine J. Smith Plaza in downtown Clemson before the screening. The event will include food, music and a presentation by Clemson Mayor Larry Abernathy.
For more information about the event or to become a sponsor, contact Borick at jborick@clemson.edu or 864-656-2121.
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