In a world where physical barriers often limit dreams, one man’s extraordinary adventure with his lifelong friends has redefined what accessibility truly means. Kevan Chandler, a Fort Wayne, Indiana resident living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)—a genetic neuromuscular disease that has confined him to a wheelchair since childhood—embarked on a life-changing journey in 2016. Weighing just around 65-75 pounds due to the progressive muscle weakness caused by SMA, Kevan dreamed of exploring Europe. But many of the historic sites, cobblestone streets, and rugged terrains he wanted to visit were inaccessible by wheelchair.
Rather than abandon the idea, Kevan and his close-knit group of friends devised a creative solution: they left his wheelchair behind at the airport and modified a large child-carrier backpack to carry him on their backs. For three weeks, his friends took turns carrying him across France, England, and Ireland. They danced through the bustling streets of Paris, wandered the English countryside, and even climbed hundreds of ancient stone steps to reach the remote monastery on Skellig Michael, an island off Ireland’s coast—a feat that would have been impossible otherwise.
The trip was more than just travel; it was a profound testament to friendship. Kevan later reflected that, for the first time in his life, he didn’t feel disabled. Being carried allowed him to experience the world on equal footing with his friends, fostering a sense of freedom and inclusion that traditional mobility aids couldn’t provide in those environments.
The adventure captured global attention, inspiring a documentary, books, and ultimately the founding of the nonprofit organization We Carry Kevan. Established to answer the flood of questions from families worldwide—”Where did you get that backpack?” and “How can we do something similar?”—the organization partners with companies to design and distribute specialized adult carrier backpacks. These packs enable people with disabilities to join family outings, hikes, and adventures that wheelchairs might exclude them from.
Over the years, We Carry Kevan has expanded its impact. The group has undertaken further journeys, including one to China where friends carried Kevan along sections of the Great Wall. Kevan has authored books, including We Carry Kevan: Six Friends. Three Countries. No Wheelchair., which chronicles the original trip, and more recent works exploring themes of dependency, community, and growth. In 2025, the nonprofit hosted its annual 5K Run/Walk/Roll event in Fort Wayne, raising funds to support accessibility initiatives and backpack scholarships for families in need. The organization continues to build community through storytelling, family connections, and innovative mobility solutions, helping hundreds of individuals redefine accessibility through human connection.
Kevan’s story underscores a simple yet powerful truth: true friendship can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. By leaning on one another—literally and figuratively—his friends didn’t just carry him across Europe; they carried forward a movement that continues to inspire inclusion, adventure, and unbreakable bonds around the world.
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