We Carry Kevan: A Journey of Friendship, Freedom, and Redefining Accessibility
What started as a wild idea between friends — to explore Europe without a wheelchair — turned into a global movement that’s redefining what accessibility means. In this episode of El Camino People: The Podcast, host José María talks with Kevan Chandler, the man at the heart of the We Carry Kevan project. Born with spinal muscular atrophy, Kevan has lived life with both limitations and determination. But in 2016, he and six friends set out on a three-week trip across France, England, and Ireland… carrying Kevan on their backs.
From Sewers to the Streets of Paris
The idea began in the most unlikely of places: the sewers of their hometown. Using a makeshift backpack frame and a few hammocks, Kevan’s friend Tom carried him on an urban exploration adventure. That experience planted the seed — if they could do this for an afternoon, what could they do for three weeks in Europe?
Working with backpack company Deuter, they redesigned a child carrier to safely hold Kevan’s weight and provide head support. Then, without a wheelchair, they set off to explore cities, countryside trails, and historic sites — even hopping fences in rural England.
A Movement Is Born
Their journey captured the hearts of people worldwide. Photos of Kevan being carried through crowded metros, across cobblestone streets, and into places normally inaccessible to wheelchairs spread quickly. The trip also sparked countless conversations — strangers in cafes, fellow travelers, even tuxedoed diners in a five-star restaurant joined in to help or simply celebrate what they saw.
When they returned, Kevin and his friends founded the nonprofit We Carry Kevan. Its mission: to make adventure possible for others with mobility challenges by providing adapted backpacks and building community around accessibility. Since then, they’ve delivered over 1,000 backpacks to families in 45 countries — for everything from volcano climbs to simply taking a child to feed the chickens.
Beyond the Backpack
For Kevan, the project is about more than equipment. It’s about vulnerability, trust, and the deep connections forged when people step into each other’s lives. “Within our need,” Kevan says, “there’s an element of hospitality. We can invite others into our challenges and meet them together.”
That spirit now drives their work — connecting families, supporting caregivers, and showing the world that accessibility is about people helping people.
🌐 Learn more or get involved at https://wecarrykevan.org/
