To celebrate his 50th birthday, Rawl Wharton decided he wanted to go on a trek to Delicate Arch in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. To make the difficult journey, Wharton, who is living with ALS and can only move his head and shoulders, called on dozens of family and friends who carried him in his three-wheel wheelchair along the rugged 3-mile trail.
The group spent hours pushing, pulling, and lifting him over steep and rocky terrain to fulfill his longtime dream. "It's not easy to get somebody that far up there," Wharton explains. "The park rangers were super impressed." His wife, Tiffany, says the journey was difficult for her husband too, but, “he just powered through it.”
When they finally reached Delicate Arch, Wharton says he cried for about 15 minutes, while those with him describe the moment as unforgettable. “He was so happy,” Tiffany says, noting his deep gratitude for everyone involved. Despite the difficult descent, the group agreed the experience was worth it as they helped make Wharton’s birthday dream a reality.
Source: KSL
Photo: Mark Brodkin Photography / Moment / Getty Images