Kevan Chandler’s Inspiring Journey: How Friends Built a Backpack to Carry Him Across France, England, and Ireland
Some dreams seem too far away when life places limits on your body. For Kevan Chandler, born with spinal muscular atrophy type 2, travel was always one of those dreams. He wanted to see the world, not through the screen of a computer or the pages of a travel book, but with his own eyes—the winding streets of Paris, the green hills of Ireland, the charm of London. Yet, being unable to walk meant he relied on a wheelchair, and the thought of navigating Europe’s cobblestones, narrow alleys, and historic buildings seemed almost impossible.
Kevan could have let that dream slip away. Many would have understood if he had chosen to stay behind, watching his friends take the trip without him. But life had a different plan, and friendship had something more powerful in store.
When Kevan first shared his concerns, his friends didn’t see him as a burden. They saw him as part of their circle, someone whose laughter and presence made the journey complete. And then, in a moment of lighthearted creativity, one friend suggested the unthinkable: “What if we just carried you?”
At first, Kevan laughed it off. It sounded like a joke, something you’d say with no real intention of following through. But soon, sketches started forming on napkins, and ideas turned into blueprints. The group researched designs, materials, and tested ways to make a backpack sturdy enough to carry a grown man comfortably. Slowly, what seemed like a crazy idea became a tangible invention—a custom-made backpack carrier that would allow Kevan to sit securely while his friends took turns carrying him.
It wasn’t about pity, and it wasn’t about obligation. For them, Kevan wasn’t extra weight; he was a friend, a storyteller, a dreamer. And they wanted him to share every single part of the adventure.
In the summer of 2016, they set out together. Kevan, lifted onto his friends’ backs, saw Europe in a way he never thought possible. In France, he marveled at the towering cathedrals, feeling small yet powerful at the same time. The narrow streets and uneven pavements that would have been impossible in a wheelchair now became paths of discovery. Each step his friends took was a step into a world that had once seemed closed to him.
In England, they found themselves inside cozy pubs, laughing with strangers, enjoying the atmosphere of history mixed with modern life. Kevan’s joy became contagious, and the people they met were often amazed at the sight of friends carrying their companion not out of necessity, but out of love. For Kevan, these moments proved something he had long believed: adventure isn’t measured by how far you walk, but by how deeply you live.
Ireland brought its own kind of magic. Standing at the edge of cliffs, with the wind roaring against them, Kevan felt free in a way that words can hardly capture. The vastness of the ocean stretched out before him, and in that moment, he wasn’t thinking about what he couldn’t do—he was overwhelmed by everything he could. His heart soared, lifted by both the landscape and the strength of his friendships.
The journey was not without its challenges. Carrying another person for miles at a time required stamina, coordination, and patience. The backpack had to be adjusted, the weight shifted, and breaks taken. But every challenge was embraced as part of the adventure. For Kevan’s friends, it wasn’t about being heroes—it was about sharing the experience equally. And Kevan, in turn, brought something invaluable: his perspective, his resilience, and his ability to see joy in every moment.
What began as a simple trip with friends turned into something much larger. Kevan’s story spread across the world, touching countless hearts. It wasn’t just a story about disability or travel—it was a story about trust, creativity, and the kind of love that makes the impossible possible. His experience even inspired the creation of We Carry Kevan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping other people with disabilities experience adventures that might otherwise seem out of reach. From national parks to cultural landmarks, Kevan’s vision has grown into a movement that proves no dream should be abandoned simply because of physical limits.
Reflecting on his travels, Kevan once said that the trip wasn’t about checking places off a list—it was about being with his friends, sharing moments of wonder, and realizing that we are not defined by what we can’t do, but by how we live with what we have.
What makes this story so powerful is its reminder that friendship, when it’s real, is more than convenience. It’s about carrying each other through the heavy parts of life, whether literally or figuratively. Kevan’s friends carried him across countries, but he also carried them—through laughter, gratitude, and a deeper understanding of what it means to live fully.
For anyone who has ever felt limited by circumstances, Kevan’s story offers hope. It tells us that while life can present barriers, there are always ways around them, especially when we lean on each other. Adventure doesn’t always look like postcards or travel brochures. Sometimes, it looks like four friends taking turns with a backpack, discovering the world together.
The winding streets of Paris, the pubs of England, and the cliffs of Ireland will always remain in Kevan’s memory. But even more lasting is the proof that love and friendship can break barriers, build bridges, and carry us to places we never thought possible.
Kevan’s journey wasn’t just about Europe. It was about something much bigger: the courage to dream, the creativity to solve problems, and the power of people who refuse to let each other face life alone. And that is a journey worth sharing with the world.
