Darius Goes West goes for Oscar nomination
Contributed by Larry Hambree

Darius Weems (c), who was born with the fatal disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), rafts with his friends on their 7,000 mile trip out west. The friends were determined Weems's last days would be quality ones. The trip is documented in Darius Goes West.

Where would you go if you'd never been away from home? What would you do if you didn't have much time left?

Fifteen- year- old Darius Weems from Athens, Georgia, who was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), the most common fatal genetic disorder to affect children worldwide.

In 1999, he watched his beloved older brother, Mario, pass away from the same disease at age 19. Soon after, Darius lost use of the muscles in his legs and had to use a wheelchair to get around.

A group of Darius's college- age friends decided there was no need for his quality of life to disintegrate along with his muscles. In the summer of 2005, they rented a wheelchair- accessible RV and took Darius, who had never seen mountains, the ocean, or even crossed a state line, on the adventure of a lifetime.

Darius went to the shore on his trip out west.

The ultimate goal of their 7,000- mile cross- country journey was to reach Los Angeles and convince MTV's hit show Pimp My Ride to customize Darius's wheelchair. Along the way, they evaluated wheelchair accessibility in America, celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and raised awareness of DMD- particularly among a generation not familiar with Jerry Lewis. They also found joy, brotherhood and the knowledge that life, even when imperfect, is always worth the ride.

The crew of Darius Goes West includes Logan Smalley, director; Allison Firor, co- director; Jarrard Cole, assistant director; John Hadden and Dylan Wilson, Cinematography; Jason Hees and Collin Shepley, sound; Logan Smalley, music. Cast members are Andrew Carson, Daniel Epting, John Harmon, Jason Hees, Sam Johnson, Collin Shepley, Ben Smalley, Logan Smalley, Kevin Wier, and Darius Weems.

To become Oscar nomination eligible, the movie has to be shown in 14 cities for three consecutive days, and Columbia will be one of those cities. Darius Goes West will run November 5- 7, Monday- Wednesday at noon and 1:30 pm at the Nickelodeon. In the credits, movies goers will see the late Murray Marcus, the father of Toni Elkins, because he supported the movie.

For more information, go to: http://www.dariusgoeswest. com/film.html

The Nickelodeon Theatre is located at 937 Main Street in Columbia. Admission for this movie is $6 for general admission, $5 for seniors and students and $4 for Nick members.

Visit www.nickelodeon. org for more information or call 803-254-8234.