NEWS

Boy is carried down Grand Canyon to achieve dream

Elissa Koehl
USATODAY
Grand Canyon trip once in a lifetime for teen with muscular dystrophy.

Family, friends, firefighters and strangers came together to help 14-year-old Anthony Castle achieve what seemed like an impossible dream. In doing so, they may have made the most unusual, but special, hike down the Grand Canyon.

Castle was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of three. He lost the ability to walk a few months ago, but that didn't diminish his dream of hiking the Grand Canyon and dipping his toes in the Colorado River.

With the help of at least 30 people, and a specially designed wheelchair that looks more like a chariot, Castle was carried over rocks, around curves and through water to reach the bottom of the Canyon. There were plenty of stops along the way, as those carrying the chair had to swap every 20 minutes. Other hikers stopped to watch and cheer for Castle and his team. Paramedics were along for the hike as well, keeping a close eye on the boy's oxygen level and fluids.

But the grueling hike was all worth it when Castle caught his first glimpse of the mighty Colorado River. "Wow," he whispered as he soaked in the majestic surroundings.

For his mom, Jill, the journey was an unforgettable one. "I didn't want it to be over. It was one of the greatest experiences of my entire life," she exclaimed at the end of the hike.

Watch the video above to see more of Castle's incredible journey and the moving scene when he dips his toes in the Colorado River.